Steven Runciman in his work “The Fall of Constantinople” states that in the 18th century only three churches from the pre-Fall era were left in Christian hands: the Church of St. George of Kyparission, which was ruined by an earthquake, St. Demetrius of Kanab, destroyed by fire, and the Church of Panagia of the Mongols (also known as “Panagia Mouchliotissa”).
Therefore, it seems that nowadays the only Byzantine church that is in operation in Constantinople and, fortunately, was never converted into a mosque, is Panagia Mouchliotissa. The appellation of the church originates from the castle of Mouchlion near Mystras, in the Peloponnese, the citizens of which settled in the Phanar in 1242, especially on the fifth Hill of Constantinople.
What about the history of the church? It is noteworthy that the daughters of the Byzantine Emperor Mauritius (582-602) built inside the sanctuary of the church the Female Monastery of Saint Eustolia, as it was called at the time. A male monastery was built nearby later on. Both monasteries flourished until the invasion of the Crusaders and eventually fell into decline. The church was re-established at the end of the 13th century by Maria Palaiologina, the daughter of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, who was also called Despina Khatun (in Greek Magoulia) after she got married to the Mongol Abaqa Khan. Hence, the Church got the name “Magoulia”.
Maria Palaiologina sold her entire property, silver and gold utensils, books and land, for the maintenance of the church. After her passing away, her stepdaughter Theodora took over the supervision of the church. Some historic facts that took place in the period a few years after the Fall are very interesting. At the time, according to the Ruler of Moldavia Dimitrie Cantemir, Mohammed II the Conqueror issued a decree under which the Church of Panagia Magouliotissa and the adjacent land was given as a reward for the construction of the Fatih Mosque (Fatih Cammi). The mosque was built by an architect called Christodoulos on the demolished Church of the Holy Apostles.
Sultan Ahmet III tried to convert the church into a mosque, but, thanks to the efforts of Dimitrie, who was then living in Constantinople, he contacted vizier Çorlulu Ali Pasha and was, therefore, able to present the decree issued by Mohammed II in order to protect the church.
The Church of “Panagia Mouchliotissa” is a small four-aisled church of Byzantine style. In the right part of the main body of a church, there is the ancient Byzantine holy spring of the Dormition of the Mother of God. There was a well full of holy water, which is nowadays sealed because the water was deemed as non-potable. The frescoes are partially damaged.
Legend has it that an underground corridor connects the Church of Mouchliotissa with the Church of Hagia Sophia, located on the first hill of Constantinople. In addition, there is the Holy-Water Chapel of Saint Anna in the churchyard. It noteworthy that before the events that took place in 1955, valuable religious items were kept in the church, such as a Byzantine chalice, gospels, reliquaries, and the holy relics of St. John Chrysostom. The students of the Phanar Greek Orthodox College and formerly of the”Ioakeimeio” Girl’s School, when it was in operation until 1987, used to go to Panaghia Mouchliotissa. The Church was repaired many times over the years. In recent decades, despite the efforts of church committees, the Church began to collapse. The last renovation took place in 1997. The costs of the works were covered by an offer given by businessman Gerasimos Vassilopoulos, who was an Archon Orphanotrophos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Community of the Dormition of Panagia Mouchliotissa, one of the 54 Greek communities of Constantinople, had an active fraternity which provided support to various charitable causes until 1970, an educational and sports association until 1940 and it organised a breadline into the School. It belongs to the Phanar-Kerati Gulf Region and to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Most Reverend Bishop Dionysios of Synades is the head of the community. There is also a parish which operates every 45 days.
