Panagiotissa Through the Layers of Time: The Archive’s Memory of Repairs and the Present Condition of the Structure (1691-Todate)

Abstract

Panagiotissa (Panagia Muhliotissa) Church is Istanbul's only Byzantine church that has maintained its original function without interruption for over a millennium. Despite this unique status, the monument faces critical conservation challenges arising from its complex multi-layered history and ongoing material deterioration. This study examines the church's architectural and historical evolution, focusing on how successive Byzantine, Palaiologan, and Ottoman interventions have shaped its current physical state. To address this, the research employs numerous archival sources—including Ottoman imperial decrees, Patriarchate records, and institutional documents from 1691 to the present—combined with surveys by contemporary documentation techniques (terrestrial laser scanning and UAV surveys). The data generated include precise mappings of current deterioration (moisture damage, biological growth, unqualified repairs, and fresco decay), reconstitution drawings, and a preliminary science-based restoration proposal. The conclusions derived from these findings indicate that Panagiotissa requires a holistic conservation approach that integrates structural consolidation, removal of inappropriate additions, and material conservation, while respecting all historical layers equally rather than privileging a single period.