Byzantine Churches in Constantinople: Their History and ArchitectureVan Millingen, Alexander
Philosophy
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople: Their History and Architecture
Van Millingen, Alexander
Architecture, Byzantine; Church architecture -- Turkey -- Istanbul; Church buildings -- Turkey -- Istanbul
The mother-in-law of Alexius I. was, however, not alone in her interest
in the Chora. Her devotion to the monastery was shared also by her
grandson the sebastocrator Isaac. Tall, handsome, brave, but ambitious
and wayward, Isaac was gifted with the artistic temperament, as his
splendid manuscript of the first eight books of the Old Testament,
embellished with miniatures by his own hand, makes clear.[525] If the
inscription on the mosaic representing the Deesis found in the inner
narthex really refers to him, it proves that his influence was felt in
the decoration of the building.[526] He certainly erected a magnificent
mausoleum for himself in the church. Later in his life, indeed, he
became interested in the restoration of the monastery of Theotokos
Kosmosoteira at Viros, and ordered that mausoleum to be dismantled, and
the marbles, bronze railing, and portraits of his parents which adorned
it to be transported to Viros; but he still allowed his own portrait
'made in the days of his youthful vanity' to remain in the Chora.[527]
NOTE
Uspenski has identified Viros with Ferejik, a village situated 30
kilometres from Dedeagatch, and 20-25 kilometres from Enos, 'aux
embouchures désertées et marécageuses de la Maritza.'
The church is now the mosque of the village. It has five domes and
three apses. The central apse is pierced by a modern door. The
exonarthex has disappeared and the old principal entrance is walled
up. The plan of the church is almost identical with the plan of the
Chora. While the architectural details are poor and indicate haste,
the dimensions of the building imply considerable expense and the
wealth of the restorer. There are traces of painting on the walls of
the interior, especially in the domes (the Virgin) and in the two
lateral apses. An epitaph of seven lines in the middle of the mosque
contains the title 'despotes.' According to Uspenski, the
sebastocrator died soon after 1182, the year during which he was
engaged on the Typicon of the monastery at Viros. The monastery was
visited by the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus in 1185, by Isaac Angelus
in 1195, and by Villehardouin in 1205. Early in the fourteenth century
it was converted into a fortress, and the country round it was ravaged
in 1322 by the Bulgarians. It was attacked in vain by John
Cantucuzene, but was captured in 1355 by John VI. Palaeologus.
[Illustration: PLATE LXXXIII.
S. SAVIOUR IN THE CHORA. THE INNER NARTHEX, LOOKING SOUTH.]
[Illustration: S. SAVIOUR IN THE CHORA. THE INNER NARTHEX, LOOKING
SOUTH.
_To face page 296._]
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