The Great Transition

4.5: The Fatih Mosque and the Church of the Holy Apostles:

After he conquered the city, the Church of the Holy Apostles was initially left to the Greek Patriarch. However, it was in such bad condition that it was eventually demolished in 1461 CE.

The Sultan built the Fatih Mosque on top of the site where the Church of the Holy Apostles once stood. Construction on the complex began in 1463 CE, exactly ten years after the conquest of Constantinople. It took roughly seven years to finish that massive project, which was the first imperial mosque built in the city after the Ottoman takeover.

The passing away: He passed away in the year 1481 CE, and he was buried in his tomb in the mosque’s courtyard. The mosque wasn’t just a prayer hall; it was a külliye (a social complex). When it was finished, it included eight medreses (universities), a library, a hospital, a hospice, and a public kitchen.

Sultan Mehmed II tomb at Fatih Mosque