Archaeologist llhan Ak~it Edited by: ... AK~iT KULTUR ve TURiZM YAYINCILIK Written by: ... ilhan Ak~it Translated by: ... Ay~enaz - Kubilay Ko~ Graphic Composition: ... Zafer Emecan Typesetting: ... Gulcan Laz1m Correction: Ali Kil1~kaya Ill Photos: Tahsin Aydogmu~ Vasken Degirmenta~ Kadir K1r Erdal Yaz1c1 ... Gungor 6zsoy Colour ·Separation: ... Figur Grafik Printed by: ... Se~il Ofset Tic. Ltd. ~ti . Ak~it Kultur ve Turizm Yayinc1lik, Cagaloglu Yoku~u Cerna! Nadir Sokak Nur i~ Harn 2/4 Cagaloglu 34112-ISTANBUL I TURKEY Tel: (0090 212) 5115385 5116782 Fax: 527 68 13 Internet: www.aksityayincilik.com ... e-mail: [email protected] Copyright © Ak§it Kultur ve Turizm Yaymc:1hk, '2014 ' ISBN: 978-975-7039-43-3 ' Plan of The Chara Museum ........ .... ... ........ ...... 11 Christ Healing Two Blind Men ......................... .. 83 Architecture And Adornments ..................... ... .... 16 Christ Healing The Mother-In-Law of Peter ... ... ... ......... 83 Theodore Metochites .................................. 27 Mosaic of Jesus Christ Of The Chalke And Virgin Mary .. ....... 86 Journey To Bethlehem ........... ...... ................ 36 Christ Healing The Woman with the Issue of Blood ... ... ·. ..... 88 Holy Family's journey To Jerusalem ....................... 39 Mosaics of St. Peter And St. Paul .. ... ... ................. 90 Enrollment for Census Count Before Cyrenius ... ... .......... 40 St. Andronicus And St. Tarachus .......................... 42 The Virgin Fed by an Angel and Presentation of The Virgin in the Temple ............................... 94 Return of The Holy Family From Egypt To Nazareth ... ...... ... 45 Jesus' Baptism And Temptation of Christ .. ...... ... .... ..... 46 The Virgin Receiving The Skein of Wool from the Temple ........ 96 Birth of Christ .... ..... ..... ..... .... .... .... ...... .. 50 The Virgin Blessed by the Priests .. ....................... 98 Depictions of St. George And St. Demetrius ... .............. 52 Theodor Metochites Presenting the Model of Christ Pantocrator .................................... 56 The Church to Christ ........................... ..... . 101 The Virgin Blachernitissa And Angels ......... ... ..... ..... 58 Mary's Engagement with Joseph ................... .... .. 102 Water Being Turned Into Wine And Multiplication of Loaves ..... 60 Genealogy of Mary ..... ... .......................... 106 Flight of Elizabeth And John From A Soldier ..... ...... ...... 62 Birth of The Virgin .......................... .... ..... 108 Jesus and the Samaritan Woman ... .......... .. ..... ...... 64 King Herod Commanding The Massacre of the Innocents ........ 67 Joseph Taking Leave of Mary ......... _· ................. 110 Christ Healing The Paralytic ... .. ........................ 68 Death of The Virgin ...................... ... ......... 113 Massacre of the Innocents .................. ......... ... 70 Paracclesion ................... .................... 116 Three Magi From The East Before King Herod .. .. .......... , . 73 The Plan of the Paracclesion ................... ..... 118-119 Christ Healing A Leper And The Man With The Withered Hand ... 74 The Anastasis Fresco ... . , ..... ... .................... 146 Genealogy of Christ ...... ........ ..................... 76 Christ Healing A Blind And Dumb Man And Healing A Multitude .. 79 Glossary ... .... .... ........ .. ... .................. 152 The church of the monastery of Chara, situated in the Edirnekap, quarter of Istanbul today, was re-erected by the Emperor }ustinianos on the site of an ancient chapel within the premises of a monastery. The monastery was named as 'chora' meaning a land outside of the city walls, but had continued to be referred to as 'chora' even after the borders of the city had been expanded beyond it. Having reached to the Komnenos era with some repairs and restorations, it suffered the same fate of the city's other churches during the Latin invasion and was in ruins. However, after the invasion, it was restored by Theodor Metochites who was an important figure of his time, and it was decorated with mosaics that arouse in the beholder a deep sense of admiration even today. Metochites who dedicated himself to the restoration of this monastery and church, and who adorned the church with unique mosaics, had a cemetery chapel erected there, as well. This chapel was also adorned with mosaics and frescoes by himself. Although Metochites successfully attained important roles in the political and social life of his period, he fell into disfavor upon the downfall of the emperor and was sent into exile. Later on, when he was pardoned and permitted to return to Istanbul, he was installed in his beloved monastery and lived there as a destitute monk until his death. We have given a particular attention to Theodor Metochites and to his turbulent life in this book, taking into consideration his integral role in the worldwide fame of the Chara Monastery thanks to the decorations made between the years 1303 and 1320. In order for the visitor of the Chara Museum to easily follow the mosaics and frescoes, we have assigned them numbers, starting from the left side of the nartex, without considering the chronological order, and included them all in our book. Moreover, we have put the theme of each mosaic next to its picture. Thus, the mosaics and their stories have attained an integrity for the reader. In our book, we have tried to present to you the unique mosaics and frescoes of this church which perfectly reflects the Palaiologos era of the Byzantine Art. Now, we leave you alone with these magnificient mosaics and their mysterious world. Respectfully, Jlhan Ak~it 59. Christ healing the multitude 60-62-64-67. Medallions of angels 61. Christ healing two blind men 63. Christ healing Peter's mother-in-law A 1. )journey to Bethlehem Tomb F (dated 1330, tomb of a member of a Palaiologos family) 65. Christ of Chalke and Virgin Mary 2. Holy family's journey to Jerusalem D 29. Flight of Elizabeth and John the Baptist 3. Medallions of the saints 30. St. Eugraphus, Menas of Alexandria, Hermogenes 66. Christ healing the woman with the issue of blood 4. Christ among the doctors 31. An unidentified scene J-I 68. St. Paul 5. John the Baptist bearing witness of Christ 32. Christ healing a leper 69. The Virgin fed by an angel 6. The census count 33. St. Abius, St. Gurias, St. Samonas 70. Education of the Virgin in the temple 7. Medallions of the saints 34. The Magi before Herod 71. The Virgin receiving the skein of wool for the temple A-B 8. Anne and Mary D-E 35. An unidentified saint 72. Presentation of the Virgin to the temple 9. St. Andronicus 36. An unidentified saint 73. Metochites presenting the model of the church to Jesus 10. Other saints 37 . An unidentified soldier saint I-H 74 . St. Peter 11. Tarachus Tomb E Tomb of Irene Raulaina Palaiologos 1325 12. St. Joachim E 38. St. Sergius or St. Bacchus 75. First seven steps of Mary Tomb G( 1 5th century) 39. Mothers' mourning 76. Zachariah praying for the rods of the suitors B 13. Return of the Holy Family from 40. Interrogation of King Herod H 77. Mary's engagement with Joseph Egypt to Nazareth 41. An unidentified saint 78. Mary's blessing by the priests 14. Medallions of the saints (St. Laurus, St. F 42. The Samaritan woman at the well 79. Mary caressed by her parents Flarus, St. Menas of Phrygia, St. Victor, St. Vincentus) 43. Massacre of the innocent 80. Birth of the Virgin 15. Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist 44. Command for killing of the innocent H-G 81. Joachim and Anne meeting at the Golden Gate 16. Temptation of Christ 45. Christ healing a blind man 82. Joseph taking the Virgin to his House 17. Birth of Christ 46. Healing of a paralytic in Bethseida Pool G 83. Genealogy of Mary 18. Medallions of the saints (St. Philemon, St. 47 . Healing of a paralytic in capernaum 84. Medallions of angels Leucius, St. Agathanicus, St. Thyrsus, St. Appollonius) F-K 48. St. Euthymius 85. Joseph taking leave of Mary B-C 19. Mary and Christ Child K 49. Holy Family's flight to Egypt Tomb H the Tomb of despot Demetrius Palaiologos 20. St. George 50. Magi returning to the East who died in 1340 21. An unidentified saint 51. An unidentified scene 86. Joachim's offering rejected C 22. The Virgin Blachemitissa above the entrance door 52. An unidentified scene 87. Annunciation to St. Anne 23. Christ Pantocrator above the entrance to the inner narthex 53. Christ healing a man with the withered hand 88. Joachim in wilderness 24. The Cana miracle (water being turned to wine) 54. Christ healing a leper 89. A medallion of an angel 25. Multiplication of the loaves 55. Christ Pantocrator and the ancestors 90. Annunciation to Mary at the well C-D 26. John the Baptist 56. Christ's genealogy 1st Line 91. Death of the Virgin 27. St. Demetrius 57. Christ's genealogy 2nd Line 92.Christ 28. An unidentified saint 58. Christ healing a blind and dumb man 93. The Virgin Hodegetria I 10 ...................................... ?a .... [';;;;···""" ....................... 4.5.l i 47 4J F !42 ! · ........................................... · 111