|
building was transformed into a mosque with
the order of Atik Ali Pasha by the addition of a minaret. Also,
the mosaics and frescoes were covered under fine plaster in
1765.
Kariye Museum is a masterpiece having the
most splendid Byzantine mosaics. It is better to start visiting
the museum from the nave which was the main worship hall. The
colored marble on the ground and the marble slabs on walls
create a nice atmosphere. Since, Ottoman period niche of the
mosque had to point the south-east direction for the prayers of
the Moslems, it is not at the center of the Byzantine apse.
Right of the apse is the mosaic of child Jesus and Mary, and at
the left one is Jesus Christ. These mosaics are partially
damaged. But the 'koimesis' above the entrance door is well
preserved. In this panel Mary lays in a bed and around her are
Jesus, his apostles and angels.
The most beautiful mosaics of the church are
at the inner and outer narthexes. The diversity of subjects,
richness of colors, the abundance of details in these panels are
matchless among Byzantine churches. The stories depicted in the
mosaics were taken from the Bible. But some of the subjects such
as the birth and childhood of Mary were taken from Apocalyptic
Bibles.
The intention of these pictures was to teach
the Bible, Jesus and his family to illiterate people. In most
cases, the decorations of churches were drawn by the priests
working in the church, but those in the Chora Church were the
products of professional artists. These mosaics include vivid,
realistic and dynamic scenes. Colored pebbles collected from the
rivers of Istanbul and the coasts of Sea of Marmara were used to
create these mosaics. The mosaics represent the revival of
pictorial arts. In order to illustrate the third dimension in
the pictures, the buildings on the background were drawn by
covering cloth over these. The significant persons are
illustrated from the front the others from the profile.
 |
The pictures in the mosaics follow a
chronological order and the story begins at the left
wall with the annunciation of Mary's birth to her mother,
Anna. Mary's birth, childhood, presentation to the
temple, marriage with Joseph can be seen in this section.
At the each side of the door, which
provides passage from the inner narthex to nave, there
are the illustrations of St. Paul and St. Peter, and
above the door is the illustrations of Jesus Christ
sitting on the throne and Theodor Metochites. Depicted
in the dome, to the right of the door, are the prophets
and
|
|
the saints from the Old Testament.
Below this dome miracles of Jesus, such as healing the
sick and raising the dead are depicted on the mosaic
panels. In this section there is another picture
covering all the wall. In this picture we may see the
large scale mosaics of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Lsaak
Komnenos and nun Melanie.
The outer narthex includes a story
which begins with the scene depicting the migration of
Maiy and Joseph to Bethelem. It goes on with the birth
of Jesus. But later on the chronological order is undone.
In the middle section the scene
illustrates the temptation of Jesus by Satan. Just above
the entrance you can see the miracles of Jesus Christ,
the wedding in Cana and multiplication of bread. To the
right side of the outer narthex entrance there are the
partly damaged illustrations of Herod searching for baby
Jesus and the miracles of Jesus.
The section connected to the outer
narthex with an L plan and separated with two columns is
the paracclesion section and was constmcted during 14th
century under the auspices of Theodor Metochites.
This corridor is 16 m. long and 5 m.
wide. This section was constructed not to worship but to
bury the dead. In this section are the tombs of Theodor
Metochites, statesman Michael Tornikes and two unknown
people, and there are frescoes instead of mosaics and
theme of death is dominating the frescoes. At the end
semi-dome of the apse of the paracclesion, you can see
the anasthasis scene, which depicts Jesus Christ as he
takes out Adam and Eve from the hell.
On the arch in front of this is the
illustration of the last judgment day and sinners being
taken to hell. The central dome of the corridor was
illustrated with Mary, Jesus and Saints frescoes. |
|
