Byzantine Churches in Constantinople: Their History and Architecture
John Stuart Mill · en
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 ass 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.
_The Third or Central Bay_
10. In the eastern lunette, over the door leading to the
inner narthex.--Christ in the act of benediction.
11. In the western lunette.--The Theotokos, in the attitude
of prayer, with the Holy Child, in a nimbus, on her breast;
the legend
[Greek: MR THY
HÊ CHÔRA TOU ACHÔRETOU]
(the country of the Infinite); on the right and left, an angel.
12. In the vault.--In the north-eastern corner, the miracle of water
turned into wine. The date 1303, in Arabic numerals, is on this
mosaic. In the south-eastern corner, the miracle of the loaves.
These mosaics, placed on either side of the figure of Christ, are
emblems of His character as the Giver of Life.
In the north-western corner.--The sacrifice of a white bullock.
In the south-eastern corner.--The second miracle of the loaves.
13. On the third transverse arch.--Two saints, not named.
_The Fourth Bay_
14. In the eastern lunette.--To the left, the magi, on
horseback, guided by a star, on their way to Jerusalem; to
the right, the magi before Herod.
On the arch above.--The busts (in medallions) of SS. Abibus,
Ghourias, Samonas.
15. In the western lunette.--Elizabeth fleeing with her
child John from a soldier who pursues her with a drawn sword
in his hand.
The scenes in the vault have disappeared.
16. On the fourth transverse arch.--Two saints, not named.
_The Fifth Bay_
17. In the eastern lunette.--Herod inquiring of the priests
where the Christ should be born.
The busts of three saints on the arch above have disappeared.
18. In the western lunette.--Mothers at Bethlehem seated on
the ground, and mourning the death of their infant children.
The mosaics in other parts of this bay have disappeared.
_The Outer Bay fronting the parecclesion_
In the eastern pendentive.--To the left (19) the healing of
a paralytic; to the right (20) the healing of the man sick
of the dropsy.