Hidden in the quiet streets of Çarşamba, in Istanbul’s Fatih district, stands a structure that has been many things: a Byzantine women’s monastery, a Greek Orthodox cathedral, and now, a mosque.  Known today as Fethiye Mosque, it began its life as the Pammakaristos Monastery, one of the most historically rich Christian buildings in the city.Originally built to commemorate the Byzantine conquest of Georgia and Azerbaijan, the monastery served as a convent and spiritual haven for women, an often-overlooked yet crucial aspect of Istanbul’s religious history. The building’s dedication to the Virgin Mary reflected the city’s central role in early Christianity, a period when Constantinople was often referred to as the “City of the Theotokos.