Christ Pantokrator Monastery

Department Archive
Collection Byzantine Research Fund
Reference No. BRF/01/02/01/004
Level Item
Place Istanbul
Dates May 1910?
Scope and Content Sketch (left bottom) and watercolour (right upper corner) of the churches. The drawing is labelled in pencil: 'The Monastery of the Pantokrator and Water Aqueduck, Constantinople'. Created by George, W. S.?
Further information The large monastic complex of the Pantokrator, on the fourth hill of the city of Constantinople, was founded by Emperor John II Komnenos and converted into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror. The katholikon consists of a complex of three churches: a double-narthexed, four-columned, cross-in-square south church dedicated to the Pantokrator –the first of the triple complex to be erected-, a north domed church with impressively lavish architectural sculpture of the finest quality dedicated to the Virgin Eleousa and a central single-apsed, double-domed chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael which served as an imperial mausoleum.

The monastery, which, apart from the complete loss of the interior wall decoration and the replacement of all columns by modern piers, did not suffer major mutilations or changes, was occupied by the Venetians during the Latin siege of Constantinople but was then restored and continues to function. Invaluable information about the workings and function of the three churches and the affiliated hospital are included in the surviving twelfth-century Typikon composed by the founder John II Komnenos.