Changes

The Patriarch [[Patriarch Matthew II of Constantinople|Matthew II]] (1596-1603) moved the Patriarchate to the former convent of St George in the Phanar in about [[1600]]. The city had been in the hands of the Ottoman Turks since [[1453]]. The [[Phanar]] district became the recognised centre of Greek Christian life in the city.

The church has been reconstructed many times and little remains of its original structure. The Patriarch [[Patriarch Timothy II of Constantinople|Timothy II]] (1612-1620) rebuilt and enlarged the church in [[1614]]. It was again reconstructed under Patriarch [[Patriarch Callinicus II of Constantinople|Callinicus II the Acarnan]] (1694-1702). In the early 18th century (sources vary on the exact date) the church was badly damaged by fire. In [[1720]], Patriarch [[Patriarch Jeremias III of Constantinople|Jeremias III]] (1716-1726, 1732-1733), wrote to Neophytos, Metropolitan of Arta: "By the mercy and will of the All-Good God, the lords, may God grant them long life, were moved and they gave us permission to rebuild from the very foundations the holy church of our Patriarchal and Ecumenical Throne, and so we have started this building with the help of God."<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.org/afieroma/churches/show.php?lang=en&id=01 Ecumenical Patriarchate website]</ref> The restoration works of Jeremias III were continued by Patriarch [[Patriarch Paisius II of Constantinople|Paisius II]] (Patriarch several times between 1726 and 1752).

There was another great fire in [[1738]], when the church again suffered severe damage. It was not until [[1797]] that Patriarch [[Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople|Gregory V]] was able to begin large-scale restoration work. The current state of the church largely dates from this rebuilding. The church has the plan of a three-aisled [[basilica]] with three semicircular [[apse]]s on the east side and a transverse [[narthex]] on the west. The interior is divided into three aisles by colonnades, with the tall pews of ebony wood placed along the line of the columns. This arrangement leaves ample space in the [[nave]] for the performance of the liturgy. In the holy bema, behind the altar, the [[synthronon]] (cathedra) is arranged in a semicircle along the curved wall of the apse, with seats for the Archpriests and a central higher throne of marble for the Patriarch.

Further changes were made to the church under Patriarch [[Patriarch Gregory VI of Constantinople|Gregory VI]] (1835-1840), when the roof was raised to its present height. From this restoration dates the neo-Classical marble doorway with the ornamental door-frames, which makes the front exterior of the church look rather unlike most other Orthodox churches, which are usually designed in the [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] style. The last major rebuilding was carried out by the Patriarch [[Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople|Joachim III]] (1878-1912). The marble pavement of the sanctuary was replaced, the synthronon was renovated, marble caskets were made for the depositing of the relics, the icon-frames were repaired and the ecclesiastical collection was enriched with liturgical vessels and vestments, all donated by Orthodox Christians, mostly from outside the Ottoman Empire.