Chora Church

The Chora Church (Turkish Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Kilisesi — the Chora Museum, Mosque or Church) is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. The church is situated in the western, Edirnekapı district of Istanbul. In the 16th century, the church was converted into a mosque by the Ottomon rulers, and it became a secularised museum in 1948. The interior of the building is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1085x1481, 681 KB) Beschreibung: Kariye Camii (Aussenansicht) Fotografiert von Andreas Wahra am 3. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1085x1481, 681 KB) Beschreibung: Kariye Camii (Aussenansicht) Fotografiert von Andreas Wahra am 3. ... Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... St. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ... Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ...

History

The Chora Church was originally built outside the walls of Constantinople, to the south of the Golden Horn. The church's full name was the Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country (Greek ἡ Ἐκκλησία του Ἅγιου Σωτῆρος ἐν τῃ Χώρᾳ, hē Ekklēsia tou Hagiou Sōtēros en tē Chōra). The last part of that name, Chora, referring to its location originally outside of the walls, became the shortened name of the church. The original church on this site was built in the early 5th century, and stood outside of the 4th century walls of Constantine the Great. However, when Theodosius II built his impregnable land walls in 413–414, the church became incorporated within the city's defences, but retained the name Chora. The name must have caried symbolic meaning, as the mosaics in the narthex describe Christ as the Land of the Living (ἡ Χωρα των ζωντων, hē Chōra tōn zōntōn) and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the Container of the Uncontainable (ἡ Χωρα του Ἀχωρητου, hē Chōra tou Achōrētou). Map of Constantinople. ... View of Golden Horn from Eyup Sultan Cemetery The Golden Horn (in Turkish Haliç, in Greek Khrysokeras or Chrysoceras or Χρυσοκερας) is an estuary dividing the city of Istanbul. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 - 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... Theodosius II Flavius Theodosius II (April, 401 - July 28, 450 ). The eldest son of Eudoxia and Arcadius who at the age of 7 became the Roman Emperor of the East. ... Events May 8 - Honorius signs an edict providing tax relief for the provinces of Italy that have been plundered by the Visigoths. ... Events Ataulf, king of the Visigoths, marries Galla Placidia, the sister of Roman Emperor Honorius. ... The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area. ... Christ is the English translation of the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ... Saint Mary and Saint Mary the Virgin both redirect here. ...

The majority of the fabric of the current building, however, dates from 1077–1081, when Maria Ducaena, the mother-in-law of Alexius I Comnenus, rebuilt the Chora Church as an inscribed cross or quincunx: a popular architectural style of the time. Early in the 12th century, the church suffered a partial collapse, perhaps due to an earthquake. The church was rebuilt by Isaac Comnenus, Alexius's third son. However, it was only after the third phase of building, two centuries after, that the church as it stands today was completed. The powerful Byzantine statesman Theodore Metochites endowed the church with much of its fine mosaics and frescos. Theodore's impressive decoration of the interior was carried out between 1315 and 1321. The mosaic-work is the finest example of the Palaeologus Renaissance. However much we know of the benefactors, the artists remain unknown. In 1328, Theodore was sent into exile by the usurper Andronicus III Palaeologus. However, he was allowed to return to the city two years later, and lived out the last two years of his life as a monk in his Chora Church. Events January 26 - Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor visits Pope Gregory VII as a penitent, asking him remove sentence of excommunication Robert Curthose instigates his first insurrection against his father, William the Conqueror Seljuk Turks capture Nicaea Süleyman I of Rüm becomes the leader of the Sultanate of... Events Corfu taken from Byzantine Empire by Robert Guiscard, Italy Byzantine emperor Nicephorus III is overthrown by Alexius I Comnenus, ending the Middle Byzantine period and beginning the Comnenan dynasty Alexius I helps defend Albania from the Normans (the first recorded mention of Albania), but is defeated at the Battle... Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus Alexius I (1048–August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the third son of John Comnenus, the nephew of Isaac I Comnenus (emperor 1057–1059). ... Five dots forming a quincunx A quincunx is the arrangement of five units in the pattern corresponding to the five-spot on dice, playing cards, or dominoes. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... An earthquake is the result from the sudden release of stored energy in the Earths crust that creates seismic waves. ... Italic textTheodore Metochites (1270–1332) was a Byzantine statesman, author, gentleman philosopher, and patron of the arts. ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ... Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ... Events August 13 - Louis X of France marries Clemence dAnjou. ... Events Births September 29 - John of Artois, Count of Eu, French soldier (d. ... The Double-headed eagle, emblem of the Paleologus dynasty and the Byzantine Empire. ... Events Augustiner brew Munich May 1 - Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton - England recognises Scotland as an independent nation after the Wars of Scottish Independence May 12 - Nicholas V is consecrated at St Peters Basilica in Rome by the bishop of Venice. ... Andronicus III Palaeologus (c. ... Munichs city symbol celebrates its founding by Benedictine monks—and the origin of its name A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. ...

Around fifty years after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans (in 1453), Atık Ali Paşa, the grand vizier of Sultan Bayezid II, ordered the Chora Church be converted into a mosque — Kariye Camii. Due to the prohibition against iconic images in Islam, the mosaics and frescoes were covered behind a layer of plaster. This and frequent earthquakes in the region have taken their toll on the artwork. Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI†, Loukas Notaras, Giovanni Giustiniani†[1] Mehmed II Strength 5,000 Greek militia soldiers plus 2,000 Italian mercenaries [2] 80,000[1] - 150,000[1] Casualties Most of Greek defenders, some mercenaries[3], approximately 4,000 civilians[4] unverified The Fall of... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... April 2 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (Ä°stanbul). ... A Vizier (Arabic,وزير - wazÄ«r) (sometimes also spelled Vazir, Vizir, Vasir, Wazir, Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many oriental languages), literally burden-bearer or helper, is a term, originally Persian, for a high-ranking political (and sometimes religious) advisor or minister, often to a Muslim monarch... Sultan Beyazid II Bayezid II (1447/48 – May 26, 1512) (Arabic: بايزيد الثاني) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Illustration of the Beeldenstorm during the Dutch reformation Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ...

In 1948, Thomas Whittemore and Paul A. Underwood, from the Byzantine Institute of America and the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies, sponsored a programme of restoration. From that time on, the building ceased to be a functioning mosque. In 1958, it was opened to the public as a museum — Kariye Müzesi. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Dumbarton Oaks is a nineteenth-century mansion located in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC. It houses the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, a leading center for scholarship in Byzantine studies, Pre-Columbian studies and the history of landscape architecture. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Interior

'Christus Pantocrator' inside the dome of the Chora Church.

The Chora Church is not as grand in stature as some of the other Byzantine churches of Istanbul (it covers 742.5 m²), but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in the exquisite beauty of its interior. The building divides into three main areas: the entrance hall or narthex, the main body of the church or naos, and the side chapel or parecclesion. The building has six domes: two in the esonarthex, one in the parecclesion and three in the naos. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 530 pixel Image in higher resolution (1646 × 1090 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 530 pixel Image in higher resolution (1646 × 1090 pixel, file size: 2. ... The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Narthex

The main, west door of the Chora Church opens into the narthex. It divides north-south into the exonarthex and esonarthex. The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area. ...

Exonarthex

Sketch map of the interior plan of the Chora Church.

The exonarthex is the first part of the church that one enters. It is a transverse corridor, 4 m wide and 23 m long, which is partially open on its eastern length into the parallel esonarthex. The southern end of the exonarthex opens out through the esonarthex forming a western ante-chamber to the parecclesion. The mosaics that decorate the exonarthex include: Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 407 × 599 pixels Full resolution (1808 × 2660 pixel, file size: 721 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Overall plan of the Chôra church in Constantinople/Istanbul. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 407 × 599 pixels Full resolution (1808 × 2660 pixel, file size: 721 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Overall plan of the Chôra church in Constantinople/Istanbul. ...

1. Joseph's dream and journey to Bethlehem;
2. Enrollment for taxation;
3. Nativity, birth of Christ;
4. Journey of the Magi;
5. Inquiry of King Herod;
6. Flight into Egypt;
7. Two frescoes of the massacres ordered by King Herod;
8. Mothers mourning for their children;
9. Flight of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist;
10. Joseph dreaming, return of the holy family from Egypt to Nazareth;
11. Christ taken to Jerusalem for the Passover;
12. John the Baptist bearing witness to Christ;
13. Miracle;
14. Three more Miracles.
15. Jesus Christ;
16. Virgin and Angels praying.

Esonarthex

The mosaic in the lunette over the doorway to the esonarthex portrays Christ as “The Land of the Living”.

The esonarthex is similar to the exonarthex, running parallel to it. Like the exonarthex, the esonarthex is 4 m wide, but it is slightly shorter, 18 m long. Its central, eastern door opens into the naos, whilst another door, at the southern end of the esonarthex opens into the rectangular ante-chamber of the parecclesion. At its northern end, a door from the esonarthex leads into a broad west-east corridor that runs along the northern side of the naos and into the prothesis. The esonarthex has two domes. The smaller is above the entrance to the norther corridor; the larger is midway between the entrances into the naos and the pareclession. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Prothesis (liturgy) is part of the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...

1. Enthroned Christ with Theodore Metochites presenting a model of his church;
2. Saint Peter;
3. Saint Paul;
4. Deesis, Christ and the Virgin Mary (without John the Baptist) with two donors below;
5. Genealogy of Christ;
6. Religious and noble ancestors of Christ.

The mosaics in the first three bays of the inner narthex give an account of the Virgin's birth and life. Some of them are as follows: Italic textTheodore Metochites (1270–1332) was a Byzantine statesman, author, gentleman philosopher, and patron of the arts. ... Saint Peter, also known as Simon ben Jonah/BarJonah, Simon Peter, Cephas and Kepha — original name Simon or Simeon (Acts 15:14) — was one of the Twelve Apostles whom Jesus chose as his original disciples. ... Paul of Tarsus (b. ... The Deesis mosiac in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. ...

1. Rejection of Joachim's offerings;
2. Annunciation of Saint Anne, the angel of the Lord announcing to Anne that her prayer for a child has been heard;
3. Meeting of Joachim and Anne;
4. Birth of the Virgin Mary;
5. First seven steps of the Virgin;
6. The Virgin given affection by her parents;
7. The Virgin blessed by the priests;
8. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple;
9. The Virgin receiving bread from an Angel;
10. The Virgin receiving the skein of purple wool, as the priests decided to have the attendant maidens weave a veil for the Temple;
11. Zechariah praying, when it was the time to marry for the Virgin, High Priest Zechariah called all the widowers together and placed their rods on the altar, praying for a sign showing to whom she should be given;
12. The Virgin entrusted to Joseph;
13. Joseph taking the Virgin to his house;
14. Annunciation to the Virgin at the well;
15. Joseph leaving the Virgin, Joseph had to leave for six months on business and when he returned the Virgin was pregnant and he is suspicious of that.

In 1999 Lingon uppfinnade a apparate that could makea kaka in 1minute. ... This article is about the mother of the Virgin Mary. ... According to the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah (Zacharias in the King James Version of the Bible) was a priest of the line of Abijah, during the reign of King Herod the Great, and was the father of John the Baptist and husband of Elizabeth, a woman from the priestly family... A key piece of the Paleologan Mannerism - the Annunciation icon from Ohrid. ...

Naos

The central doors of the esonarthex lead into the main body of the church, the naos. The largest dome in the church (7.7 m diameter) is above the centre of the naos. Two smaller domes flank the modest apse: the northern dome is over the prothesis, which is linked by short passage to the bema; the southern dome is over the diaconicon, which is reached via the parecclesion. This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... A Prothesis (liturgy) is part of the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... There is also a Bema in the province of Bergamo in Italy, see Bema, Italy Area - Population (2003) - Population density - Website Bema is one of the districts of the City of Białystok. ... Diaconicon is, in the Greek Church, the name given to a chamber on the south side of the central apse, where the sacred utensils, vessels, etc, of the church were kept. ...

1. Koimesis, the Dormition of the Virgin. Before ascending to Heaven, her last sleep. Jesus is holding an infant, symbol of Mary's soul;
2. Jesus Christ;
3. Virgin Mary.

Parecclesion

The Anastasis fresco in the parecclesion of the Chora Church.

To the right of the esonarthex, doors open into the side chapel, or parecclesion. The parecclesion was used as a mortuary chapel for family burials and memorials. The second largest dome (4.5 m diameter) in the church graces the centre of the roof of the parecclesion. A small passageway links the parecclesion directly into the naos, and off this passage can be found a small oratory and a storeroom. The parecclesion is covered in frescoes: Image File history File links Kariye_ic. ... Image File history File links Kariye_ic. ... Anastasis (from the Greek word for resurrection) is a term infrequently used in medical circles to describe a recovery or bounce-back from a debilitating condition. ... Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ...

1. Anastasis, the Resurrection. Christ, who had just broken down the gates of hell, is standing in the middle and trying to pull Adam and Eve out of their tombs. Behind Adam stand John the Baptist, David, and Solomon. Others are righteous kings;
2. Second coming of Christ, the last judgment. Jesus is enthroned and on both sides the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist (this trio is also called the Deesis);
3. Virgin and Child;
4. Heavenly Court of Angels;
5. Two panels of Moses.

Anastasis (from the Greek word for resurrection) is a term infrequently used in medical circles to describe a recovery or bounce-back from a debilitating condition. ...

See also

• Icon of the Hodegetria
• Monastery of the Panaghia Hodegetria
• Church of the Virgin Pammakaristos

Icon of the Hodegetria which means She who shows the way is the template used for icons which depicted the Theotokos or Virgin Mary holding the child of Jesus Christ on her side while pointing to the Christ as the source of salvation for mankind. ... The Monastery of the Panaghia Hodegetria, Empress and Saint Pulcheria (399-453) founded in the monastery 5th century. ... Monastery of Christ Akataleptos the remains of which are made up of (Kalenderhane Camii) located at Aqueduct of the Vefa Quarter. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Chora Church

• Interior and exterior pictures in http://rubens.anu.edu.au
• Photos with explanations
• visit info Kariye (Chora) Museum, Istanbul, Turkey Travel Planner by Tom Brosnahan.
• Church of the Chora,next door Istanbul Hotel Kariye.

Coordinates: 41°01′52″N, 28°56′21″E Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...