| |
Kariye is located at
Edirnekapi section of Ýstanbul. The dictionary meaning of Kariye (Chora)
is "outside of the city", or "rural" in old Greek. The existence of
a chapel outside the city walls in very old is mentioned in some
sources. The first Khora Church was built on the site of this chapel
by Justinianus.
The building which managed to survive until the times of the
Commenos with various additions and repairs, gained importance when
the Imperial Palace Blakhernia near the city walls was expanded. At
the end of 11th century Maria Dukaina, the mother-in-law of Emperor
Alexi I had it rebuild. The church has a kiborion shaped space whose
dome is carried by four arches. During the Latin occupation of 1204
- 1261, both the monastry and the church became extremely run down.
During the reign of Andronikos (1282 - 1326), one of the prominent
names of the day, the writer, poet and the minister of treasury
Theodore Methocite had the monastry and the church repaired towards
1313, and had an annex to the north of the building, an outer
narthex to the west and a chapel (Parekklesion) to the south. These
new additions were decorated with frescoes and mosaics. Parekklesion,
which is a long single naved chapel going along the southern façade,
is built above a basement floor. It is partially covered with a dome
and the remaining sections are covered by vaults. It has a single
abscissa. The outer narthex which runs along the full western facade
forms the present façade. The northern wing is only an insignificant
corridor. The central dome has a high drum. It is a Turkish period
restoration and is made of wood. Outer façades are given plasticity
and movement with round arches, half braces, niches and rows of
stone and brick. The eastern façade is finished with abscissa
extending to the exterior. The middle abscissa is supported with a
half arched brace.
The building was used as a church after the conquest of Istanbul but
was converted into a mosque in 1511 by the Visier Grand Hadým Ali
Pasha, who later added a school and a alm kitchen next to it. After
the conversion, the mosaics and frescoes were covered, sometimes by
wooden blinds and sometimes by whitewashing over them. All the
mozaics and frescoes were uncovered with the work carried out by the
American Institute of Byzantine Research between 1948 - 1958. Chora
mosaics and frescoes are the most beautiful examples of the last
period of Byzantine art (14th century). They show a striking
similarity. The monotonous background of the former period cannot be
seen here. The concept of depth, recognition of the placticity and
movement of the figures and the elongation in the figures are the
characteristic of this style. Scenes from life of Jesus are given on
the outer narthex while the inner narthex has scenes from the life
of Madonna. On the portal of the door joining the outer to the inner
narthex, there is Christ the "Pantocrator". On the left the scenes
depict the birth of Jesus, population cencus being carried out under
the supervision of Governor Cyrinus, the angel telling Joseph to
leave taking Mary with him, the multiplication of loaves of bread,
water turning to wine and on the right side scenes such as messanger
kings informing about the birth of Christ, healing of the stroke
victims and the massacre of children.
The most beautiful mosaic on the inside is Deisis. There is Jesus in
the center with Mary on the left, below Mary, Isaac Commenus and a
nun on the right of Jesus. This woman is the daughter of the Mikhael
Palaiologos VIII. She was married to the Mongolian Prince Abaka Khan
and following her husband's death returned to Ýstanbul and became a
member of a religious order. In this section, under the dome there
is Jesus and his ancestors are shown in the segments. On the portal
of the church proper, there is Christ in the middle and on the left
Theodoros Metochites who has restored the church and adorned it with
the mosaics presenting a model of the church. The life story of
Mary, which is not included in the Bible is taken from subjects
based on the Apostles. At the inner narthex the scenes about Mary
can be followed depicting her birth, her first steps, Gabriel
telling her that she shall have a child, Mary buying wool for the
tebernacle and others. Mosaic above the inner portal of the entrance
to the main church depicts the death of the Virgin, Madonna bearing
the child Jesus and a Saint. Parekklesion is totally decorated with
frescoes. The Anastasia (rebirth) scene seen on the abscissa is a
masterpiece. The last judgement above it is shown here in full. It
is known that the niche on the right and left sides of the
Parekklesion are graves. On the dome of the Parekklesion there is
Mary and the child Jesus and 12 in the segments.
Open every day except Tuesdays
|
