Tur-i Sina Monastery Restoration

Work Completed: Survey, Restitution, and Restoration Projects

Located on Mürsel Paşa Street in the Balat neighborhood of Fatih district, Istanbul, heading north toward Eyüp, the Tur-i Sina Monastery Library is situated on parcel 4, block 2332, on the north side of the road. This structure, a beacon-like building, reflects a period when Western-inspired motifs began to influence architectural design. Its architectural and functional characteristics clearly illustrate this transition. Within the Christian community, the Tur-i Sina Monastery is commonly known as AYA YANI CHURCH, and it is referred to as such in German blueprints.

The restitution studies were prepared based on the traces present on the structure itself, by examining similar buildings and utilizing Çiğdem Karamanoğlu’s thesis completed in 1986.

The structure has largely been preserved. As a complex, it still maintains its functional integrity.

Due to the gradual elevation of Mürsel Paşa Street over time, the southern façade (the front façade) of the Tur-i Sina Monastery structure now sits below the road level. Over the years, a library and guesthouse have been added to the monastery complex. The addition of libraries and guesthouses to such complexes emerged in the 17th century, and the library building exhibits characteristics similar to those of 18th-century libraries.

The Tur-i Sina Church shares the same courtyard as the monastery. When the structure was built, it was designed as a cohesive whole, incorporating both social and religious functions.

In the Tur-i Sina complex, the church is located to the north, the guesthouse and auxiliary buildings are to the southwest, and the library is to the southeast. On the right-hand side of the library building, there is currently a structure being used as a café. This structure has been extended toward the back over time, obstructing the first-floor door and staircase of the library. Access to the first floor is now through the café.

In general, rubble stone is predominantly used in the construction. Cut stone was used for the front façade and window sills.

The building consists of three floors in total. The basement walls, 110 cm thick, are made of rubble stone. The interior walls are plastered with lime-based mortar. The interior features four massive supporting piers that carry the structure. The floors are vaulted, and the piers and vaults form the main load-bearing elements of the building.

The exterior walls are made of orderly rubble stone, while the interiors are plastered. The supporting piers are constructed of rubble stone, with arches and vaults built from a mix of brick and stone. The basement floor is compacted earth.