Hagia Irene is the Byzantine church in Istanbul dedicated to Divine Peace, or Hagia Eirene.
The church stands in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace, near Hagia Sophia. Its name comes from the Greek phrase meaning “Holy Peace,” rather than from a particular saint. It served as the cathedral of Constantinople before Hagia Sophia was completed and remained an important imperial church.
The present building mainly reflects rebuilding under Emperor Justinian I after the Nika Riot of 532, although later repairs altered parts of it. Its large domed interior and restrained decoration make it an important example of Constantinopolitan architecture.
Hagia Irene is often confused with Hagia Sophia because both churches stand in the former imperial center. Unlike Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene was not converted into a mosque and is now used as a museum and concert venue.