Monastery of the Dormition in Nicaea

The Monastery of the Dormition was a Byzantine building complex with a central domed church measuring roughly 22 by 21 meters and adorned with marble wall coverings. The structure featured a triple apse and was decorated with elaborate mosaics, of which only ruins remain today.

The monastery was founded in the 13th century and served as a temporary residence for the Patriarch of Constantinople during a period of exile from the capital. The building was destroyed in 1922, ending this important chapter of Byzantine religious life.

The name refers to the Dormition of Mary, a central theme in Byzantine religious devotion. Visitors can still sense this sacred focus through the remaining fragments scattered across the site.

The site is accessible today as ruins, but visitors should know that little of the original structure remains visible. Historical photographs from 1898 show how the monastery appeared before its destruction and help interpret the remains you see now.

The church interior was decorated with monograms of the founder Hyakinthos, a personal mark of his patronage. Nearby stood the Böcek Hagiasma, a round building housing a sacred spring that was closely connected to the monastery.

Location: Nicaea

GPS coordinates: 40.42639,29.72444

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20