The Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols stands on the steep streets of Istanbul’s Fener-Balat area, close to the Golden Horn. Its name preserves the memory of Maria Palaiologina, a Byzantine princess linked to Mongol diplomacy, while the church continues as an Orthodox place of worship.
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A church in Fener carries a name that points far beyond Istanbul. Saint Mary of the Mongols is traditionally associated with Maria Palaiologina, a Byzantine princess whose marriage to a Mongol ruler formed part of diplomacy between empires.
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Quick facts
- The church is associated with Maria Palaiologina, known as Maria of the Mongols.
- It is an Orthodox church in the Fener district.
- Historic documentation records imperial decrees affirming the church’s status after the conquest.
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