Photos of the Beautiful Chora Church Kariye Mosque Museum

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Photos of the Beautiful Chora Church Kariye Mosque Museum Byzantine Romanesque mosaics and fresco paintings . Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Beautiful Chora Church Kariye Mosque Museum

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Photos of Chora Holy Saviour Church Mosaics & Fresco Paintings 1315-1321, Kariye Mosque Museum, Istanbul.

The Chora Monstery

Originally outside the original city walls built by Emperor Constantine the Chora Monastery derives its name from the Greek Kariye meaning country or suburban area.

In 413 AD Emperor Theodosius built new land walls and the Chora monastery lies just inside these. Devastated by an earthquake on October 6th 557 AD a new basilica was built for the monastery by Emperor Justinian.

The occupation and sacking of Constantinople by the notorious Forth Crusade in 1204 lucky left the Chora untouched but under the Latin occupiers it fell into poor repair.

Theodore Metochites and the Chora

Theodore Metochites ( 1270–1332 ) was a poet and humanist scholar who lived in Nicaea during the reign of Andronicus II. He was the Son of the archdeacon George Metochites, who was condemned to exile for his fervent support of the union of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic church.

Theodore Metochites was a talented academic well versed in literature & science. He wrote poetry in high Greek that is difficult for academics to translate.

When Andronicus II visited Nicaea in 1290, Metochites made such an impression on him that he was immediately called to the court. He was made Logothete of the Herds, which made him responsible for the stables in Asia Minor which raised horses and mules for the army. Little more than a year later, he was appointed a Senator. 

Metochites’ political career culminated in 1321, when he was invested as Grand Logothete. He was then at the summit of his power, and also one of the richest men of his age.

Metochites restored the Chora adding an outer Narthex and adorning the ceilings with sumptuous mosaics and frescos between 1315-1321.

Chora Humanist Art

Being an early Humanist the style of the frescos introduces Human emotions and depictions of “real” people. The art broke the rules of the Orthodox Icon painters of the time.

The Anastasis ( resurrection) fresco of the Parecclesion chapel in the Chora depicts Christ saving Adam and Eve by resurrecting them from their sarcophagi. The fresco is full of movement with Christ all powerful in a pool of light at its centre.

Under the rule of Andronicus III Metochites fell out of favour and retired to spend his remaining years as a monk in his beloved Chora Monastery.