Mary of the Mongols is the only church that has stayed in Christian hands all throughout history even after the conquest of İstanbul by the Turks.
There is a rather tragic story around this Church which goes back to 1265 AD when the Byzantine Emperor decided to send his daughter as a bride to the Mongol Khan to secure peace which meant that Byzantine Princess Mary who was only 19 years old would marry the Mongol Khan who was in his late 80s. By the time she reached Mongolia, the Khan was dead.
Mary of the Mongols depicted in Chora Church
But due to the pressure of securing an alliance with the Mongols, she was forced to marry the Khan’s son. After 17 years, the Khan was murdered and Mary returned home to Constantinople. After her return, she became the patron of the Chora Monastery and founded a convent of her own with a Church attached. The Church was dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. Within time, the name of the Church was changed to Mary of the Mongols referring to her past as the bride of the Mongols. She gave all her wealth to the convent and retired here.
The story says that the reason the Church was able to stay as one was due to Fatih Sultan Mehmet who conquered the city of Constantinople and gave a ‘decree’ (ferman) guaranteeing that the Church stayed as a Christian Church. This decree can be seen inside the Church itself.
The Church is located in the Fener district within the old city walls which were dominated by Greek Orthodox Community for centuries which explains how it could function as a Church even after Turks started ruling the city.
I have recently learnt that the Church has another name which is the ‘Church of blood’ which derives its name from the bloody combat between Orthodox Christians who defended the city of Constantinople against the Turks during the conquest of the city in 1453. Legend says that there were streams of blood running through the streets of Fener (where the Church is located) till the shores of Golden Horn.
Here is a detailed video on the Mary of the Mongols Church by The History of Byzantine Podcast.
It is rather tricky to visit the Church as it is not open to public. I would highly recommend you to take a guided tour to ensure a visit to the only remaining Church of ancient Constantinople.
