Saint Irene Chrysovalantou lived in asceticism as a nun in the
Monastery of Chrysovalantou in Constantinople in the ninth
century. It was located on its fifth hill known then as
Chrysovalantou from which the monastery took its name (though
according to St. Irene's biography the offical name of this
monastery was dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel).
Today the fifth of the seven hills of Constantinople is occupied
by the Mosque of Sultan Selim and the Church of the Theotokos
Pammakaristos and is considered the best place to view
Constantinople and the Golden Horn. Though the remains of the
monastery have not been found, the only topographical allusion
to it that we have is its close proximity to the cistern of
Aspar, according to St. Irene's biography, which was on the
fifth hill north of the Church of the Holy Apostles (which was
on the fourth hill). This monastery operated until the 10th or
11th century. Interestingly we are informed that following St.
Irene's death she was entombed either in or