KARiYE
Kariye,
from the Greek "Chora" meaning village or even
merely district, shows that this historic monument was
originally only a very small church, a sanctuary built
outside the walls by Constantine the Great. After Theodosius
had enlarged the area within the walls, the sanctuary
found itself included in the city limits. Later, under
the Paleologus emperors, the meaning of the word "chora"
having changed, this church representing the Son of God
in his most spiritual aspect, saw its importance increasing,
the more so since a monastery was instituted in the sanctuary.
Under the reign of Justinian, the church, which was little
more than a ruin, was restored by a monk named Theodorus.
But the terrible earthquake of October 6 in, 557, destroyed
the church. Subsequently Justinian had it totally reconstructed.
Now
a basilica, it was sacked by the iconoclasts under Constantino
Copronymus (741-775), and once again restored. After 846
there is no mention in Byzantine annals of the church,
which had fallen into disuse and was merely a ruin up
to the reign of Alexus Comnenus, whose step-mother Maria
Doukain, wishing to dedicate a sanctuary to Jesus Christ,
had it totally restored and improved, it was at this time
that the church took on its present architectural form.
In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, the Latins did not
sack the church, but in the 14th century it fell once
again into a state of disrepair. Under the Emperor Andronicus
II Theodorus Methochites, scholar and humanist, decided
on the restoration of the church and the restoration of
the church and the monastery. It is to him that we owe
the wonderful mosaics and splendid frescoes that we admire
today. But having incurred the displeasure of the Emperor,
exiled and in disgrance, Methochites saw his possessions
confiscated. Andronicus III, seizing the church, burned
the palace of Methochites that was situated nearby Theodorus
Methochites, resuming from his exile, lived in the monastery
as a humble monk and was buried in front of the church
that he had so beautified. It was in this church that
the historian Nicephorus Gregorus, also fallen into disgrace,
remained imprisoned. After the conquest of the city by
Fatih, the church remained as it was up to the reign of
Sultan Beyazit II, when it was converted into a mosque
on the orders of the Grand Vizier Ali Pasa, who according
to custom added to it a religious school or medrese, to
which in 1776 on the orders of the Grand Eunuch Besir
Aga, was added an alms-house with free distribution of
food to the poor, as well as a second school.
In time, the mosaics which had been covered in chalk,
reappeared. And from the beginning of the present century
they could be clearly seen.
Under the Republic, the repair of the mosque was undertaken
by the Vakif Department, which converted it into a museum.
Members of the American Byzantine Institute, with admirable
patience, washed the mosaics one by one, repaired the
building and transformed it into the gem that we admire
today. As soon as we enter the church, in the exterior
narthex, we see some superb mosaics representing the Virgin
Mary and the Infant Jesus. Afterwards we come to an inner
Narthex, also covered with same very beautiful mosaics.
The Church comprises on the main building a baptistery
and additive recess. Surrounded by annexes, the central
building and its floor, as well as the wall of the exterior
narthex, are covered with colored marble. The mihrab which
dates from the Osmanli era is also covered with the same
marble. The building comprises a large dome surrounded
by five smaller domes. There is a square in front of the
church where vehicles can park, all the more easily since
the school and the alms-house have now disappeared.
