International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Jessica Varsallona 
Milan, Italy, 
[e-mail]
Notes on the History and Architecture of the Manastır Mescidi in Istanbul
As other more famous Byzantine buildings the Manastır mescidi was converted into a mosque 
during the Ottoman era (and formally dedicated to Mustafa Çavuş). Currently it is partially included 
in two different tram/bus deposits and its appearance is deeply modified. Until A.G. Paspates’ time, 
frescoes were visible on its southern wall. On the other hand, two reused capitals and a marble frame 
are still 
in situ
. Several features, such as its masonry, prove it was built during the late Byzantine 
period. The stratigraphic analysis of the masonry and the exam of the graphic materials produced 
during the first archaeological survey (carried out in the sixties by A. Pasadaios) allow to understand 
the structure of its former roof system. Through the comparison with other Palaiologan buildings of 
Constantinople its original features could be partially reconstructed.
The building lies nearby the Top Kapı – generally considered the Gate of Saint Romanus – and 
the presumed Fourth Military Gate of the Theodosian Walls. In the past, the proximity to the famous 
gate and walls was used as a starting point for the identification of the original Christian name of the 
building during the Byzantine era. It was firstly identified as the church once dedicated to the saints 
Menodora, Nymphodora and Metrodora, later refurbished by Phocas Maroules (Paspates) and then 
as the monastery of the sister of Michael VIII “Kyra Martha”(Eyice). The aligned position of the 
Manastır mescidi regard to the Fourth Military Gate suggests a connection between them. Few years 
ago N. Asutay discovered an inscription above an architrave of the structures of this Gate. According 

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to her, it could demonstrate the identification of this Gate as the one of Saint Romanus. Overall, the 
short inscription allows to speculate about the topography of Constantinople and the identification 
of the former church. In the medieval period the area surrounding the Manastır mescidi was not 
very crowded of monasteries and for these reason Russian pilgrims accounts also prove to be quite 
useful in order to sustain a new hypothesis of identification of the Christian dedication. Information 
taken from hagiographical written sources indirectly supports this attempt.
The aim of this paper is to reconsider the history of the neglected monument now called 
Manastır mescidi and to restore its role of documentary evidence of the Palaiologan era through the 
analysis of its architectural features and its topographical context.