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In the Topkapı Palace Garden
St. Irene was the first church in Istanbul built by Constantine in the
4th century. Justinian later had it restored. It served as the church of
the Patriarchate before Hagia Sophia was built. It is the only example
of a Byzantine church in the city with its original atrium. The building
stands in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace and was used as an
armory by the Janissaries (Ottoman Soldiers) after the conquest of
Istanbul in 1453.
Today it serves mainly as a concert hall. Most of the concerts of the
Istanbul Festival have been held in St. Irene Church for more than 25
years because of its impressive atmosphere.
On October 2000 the famous haute couture designer Faruk Saraç produced a
special show in this church. A team of 120 professionals worked for one-and-a-half
years to complete the collection of 700 pieces, ranging from designed
inspired by the founder of Ottoman Empire Sultan Osman Gazi, to the last
sultan of the Empire Sultan Vahdettin. Actors and actresses modeled the
collection, which included the dress of 36 sultans. The show was
accompanied by music and the story of the sultans' lives and Ottoman-era
dancing was demonstrated.
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