Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Part 36

[523] Niceph. Greg. iii. p. 459.

[524] _Ibid._ i. p. 459.

[525] The ma.n.u.script was discovered in the Seraglio Library by Professor T. Uspenski, and has been photographically reproduced by the Russian Inst.i.tute of Constantinople.

[526] The inscription has been injured. It now reads:--

[Symbol: cross.][Greek: ho .. os tou pselo .. tou ... sileos ...

... xiou ...

.. ou ...]

See Schmitt, pp. 38-39, who restores the inscription thus:

[Greek: ho hyios tou hypselotatou basileos Alexiou tou Komnenou].

[527] See Schmitt, pp. 39-40.

[528] Niceph. Greg. i. p. 459.

[529] Niceph. Greg. i. p. 459. [Greek: houtos habrotera chresamenos dexia, plen tou mesaitatou neo panta kalos epeskeuase], cf. ii. p.

1045.

[530] _Theodori Metochitae carmina_, ed. Treu. A 1004, _et pa.s.sim_.

[531] Niceph. Greg. i. p. 303 [Greek: arti tou neourgein epepauto ten tes Choras monen, hopsos ho endon etynchane kosmos].

[532] Niceph. Greg. ii. pp. 1045-6.

[533] Niceph. Greg. iii. p. 243.

[534] Cantacuzene, i. p. 54.

[535] Cantacuzene, ii. p. 209.

[536] _De top. C.P._ iv. c. 4:--Inter palatium Constantini et portam urbis Adrianopolitanam extat aedes in septimo (?) colle, quae etsi jam tot secula sit intra urbem tamen etiamnum [Greek: christos choras]

appellatur, ex eo, quod olim esset extra urbem. Ex tribus partibus, ut mos est Graecorum aedium sacrarum, porticu cingitur. Parietes ejus intrinsecus vest.i.ti crustis marmoris varii quadratis, ita inter se conjunctis ut distinguantur ab immo sursum versus modulis astragalorum, aliorum baccatorum, aliorum ter etiam sine baccis. Supra quadratas crustas discurrunt tres fasciae et tres velut astragali, quorum duo teretes, supremus quadratus velut regula. Supra fasciam, denticuli; supra denticulos, folia Corinthia. Denique marmor sic mensulis distinguitur ut in commissuris eluceat labor Corinthicus. Sed is plenior apparet in aede Sophiae.

[537] Cf. description by Gyllius, _De top. C.P._ iv. c. 4.

[538] [Greek: deute pros me pantes hoi kopiontes kai pephortismenoi kago]....--Matt. xi. 28.

[539] For the description of these vaults see p. 22.

[540] Schmitt (_op. cit._ pp. 92-94) maintains that the parecclesion was originally the refectory of the monastery. But a refectory there would occupy a very unusual position. Nor do the frescoes on the walls of the parecclesion correspond to the decoration of the refectory with representations of flowers and of Christ's miracles, as described by Theodore Metochites: ... [Greek: kekosmeatai anthesi poikiloi i te poulychrouoisi te baphon ... kai te diaperes apegeatai mysteria thoymata Christou].

[541] F. W. Hasluck. Bithynica, _B.S.A. Annual XIII._, 1906-7.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MOSAICS IN S. SAVIOUR IN THE CHORA

As stated already, the mosaics on the vaults and lunettes of the arches in the outer narthex of the church portray scenes from the life of Christ, as recorded in the canonical and the apocryphal Gospels, while on the faces and soffits of the arches are depicted the figures of saints 'who desired to look into these things.' Scenes from the Saviour's life are also portrayed in the two bays to the west of the parecclesion, and in the domes and southern bay of the inner narthex.

Inscriptions on the mosaics explain the subjects depicted. The scenes will be described according to the groups they form in the compartments of the narthex.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 114.--PLAN OF THE NARTHEXES OF THE CHURCH, INDICATING POSITION OF THEIR MOSAICS.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE XC.

(1) S. SAVIOUR IN THE CHORA. MOSAIC REPRESENTING THE MIRACLE OF WATER TURNED INTO WINE. THE DATE 6811 (A.D. 1303), IN ARABIC NUMERALS, IS ABOVE THE LAST FIGURE ON THE RIGHT.

_Sebah and Joaillier._ (2) S. SAVIOUR IN THE CHORA. MOSAIC REPRESENTING THE CARESSING OF MARY BY HER PARENTS, AND THE BLESSING OF MARY BY PRIESTS AT A BANQUET.

_To face page 322._]

OUTER NARTHEX

_First Bay (at the north end)._

1. In the northern lunette.--The angel announcing to Joseph, in a dream, the birth of Jesus. To the right, journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Simon the son of Joseph walks ahead, carrying a bundle. In the background, meeting of Mary and Elizabeth.

2. In the eastern lunette.--The registration of Joseph and Mary at Bethlehem before Cyrenius. (Said to be unique in the East.[542])

On the arch over the eastern lunette.--Busts (in medallions) of SS. Mardarius, Auxentius (only one letter of the name remains), SS. Eustratius, Orestes.

3. On the western lunette.--The Holy Family on the way to the first pa.s.sover of Jesus at Jerusalem.

On the arch over the western lunette.--The busts (in medallions) of SS. Anempodistus, Elpidephorus, Akindynus, Aphthonius, Pegasius.

4. In the vault.--The scene has disappeared. Possibly it represented Jesus among the doctors in the temple.

5. On the soffit of the transverse arch, between the first and second bays.--To the east, S. Andronicus; to the west, S. Tarachus.

_Second Bay_

6. In the eastern lunette.--The birth of Jesus. In the background, to left, the angel appearing to the shepherds; to right, the magi beholding the star shining over the manger in which lies the Holy Child, while an ox and an a.s.s feed in it. In the centre, Mary on a couch. In the foreground, to left, two women bathing the Holy Child; to the right, Joseph seated on the ground and gazing at the Holy Child.

On the arch above the eastern lunette.--The busts (in medallions) of SS. Philemon, Leukius, Kallinikus, Thyrsus, Apollonius.

7. In the western lunette.--Return of the Holy Family from Egypt to Nazareth.

In the arch above the western lunette.--The busts (in medallions) of SS. Engraphus (?), Menas, Hermogenes, Laurus, Florus, Menas, Victor, Vikentius.

8. In the vault.--The baptism of Jesus; the scenes in the temptation of Jesus.

9. On the second transverse arch.--To the east, S. George; to the west, S. Demetrius.