After her husband passed away, Maria Glabaina decided to become a nun. She changed her name to Martha. Instead of joining the men’s monastery at Pammakaristos, she entered the Convent of the Virgin of the Sure Hope, where her sister also became a nun later.
The Fall of Constantinople and Hagia Sophia
In 1453, the Ottoman Turks took control of Constantinople. The famous Hagia Sophia, once the main church of the Orthodox faith, was turned into a mosque by Mehmed II A Chapel Built for Love.
Mehmed II and Patriarch Gennadios
Mehmed II found Gennadios, a monk who was against the union of churches, at the Pantokrator Monastery. To Gennadios’ surprise, the Sultan made him the Patriarch, handing him the pastoral staff. After a short stay at Justinian’s Church of the Holy Apostles, in 1455, Gennadios had to leave the cathedral and move to Pammakaristos. Mehmed II even visited the church and sat in its chapel to speak with the Patriarch, who likely felt both fear and admiration toward the Sultan.
Relics Gathered at Pammakaristos
As many churches in the city were closing or being destroyed, important religious items, artwork, holy vessels, and even the remains of Byzantine emperors and empresses were brought to Pammakaristos Walking Tours Ephesus.
Treasures Seized in 1488
In 1488, the Chief Treasurer of the Sultan, Iskander Bey, who lived near the church, took valuable treasures from Pammakaristos, including all the money left by the late Patriarch Symeon I. This money was a huge sum of 180,000 aspers.
Restoration in 1518
In 1518, the church faced serious damage, especially its dome, and needed urgent repairs. To help, the Orthodox ruler of Wallachia donated 100,000 aspers for the restoration.
