Hirami Ahmed Pasha Mosque, Byzantine mosque in Çarşamba, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hirami Ahmed Pasha Mosque is a Byzantine brick building in Istanbul with a square floor plan and a central dome supported by four columns. Triple windows in the walls allow natural light to fill the interior prayer space.
The building was constructed in the 12th century as a Byzantine church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist before being converted into a mosque between 1587 and 1598. This transformation reflects the religious changes that swept through Istanbul as Ottoman rule took hold.
The building represents a transition between Byzantine and Ottoman religious architecture, preserving elements from both traditions in its structural design.
The mosque is located in Çarşamba on Koltutçu Sokak street, situated south of Pammakaristos Church in the neighborhood. Today it functions as an active prayer space after being restored and reopened for worship.
This is one of the smallest surviving Byzantine structures in Constantinople, measuring less than 16 meters in total length including the entry vestibule. Despite its compact size, it preserves the complex architectural layout of a much larger temple.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.