Located in the northeast of the historic center of Istanbul, near the Byzantine Gate of Adrianople, the Church of St. Savior was built in the 12th century and restored in the early 14th century. After the conquest of Constantinople, the Ottomans kept the building as it was until its conversion into a mosque in 1511. At that time, the magnificent frescoes and icons were completely covered.
At the end of World War II, archaeologists and historians discovered the masterpieces long hidden in the walls. In 1945, the building was converted into a museum and religious practices were prohibited inside.
However, in August 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reversed the 1958 decision that established the museum, paving the way for its return to an Islamic place of worship.