The Church of Christ in Chora, also known as Kariye, is located in the European part of Istanbul, in the Edirnekapi district near the line of the city's old land walls. It is one of the most famous monuments of Byzantine art in Turkey, visited to see the remarkably well-preserved interior decoration of the late Byzantine period. The name "in Chora" is connected with its location outside the earlier city boundary of Constantinople.

The core of the building dates to the Middle Byzantine period, while its present appearance was largely shaped in the early 14th century, when the church was expanded and richly decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The interior galleries and the southern funerary chapel - the parekklesion - are especially important, preserving outstanding cycles of painting. These images give an idea of what the interiors of the capital's Byzantine churches looked like.

Visitors are usually drawn by scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, complex compositions with biblical subjects, and the high level of craftsmanship in the mosaics. Not only the individual images are of interest here, but also the connection between the architecture and the decorative program: narrow passages, domes, vaults, and walls are perceived as a unified artistic space.

After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the church was converted into a mosque, in the 20th century it operated as a museum, and today it functions again as a mosque. Before visiting, it is worth considering the entry rules for a religious site and possible restrictions during prayer times. For tourists interested in the history of Istanbul, Byzantine architecture, and monumental painting, this is one of the most rewarding places in the city.