BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN CONSTANTINOPLE
Reading edition
THEIR HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
BY
ALEXANDER VAN MILLINGEN, M.A., D.D. PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, ROBERT COLLEGE, CONSTANTINOPLE AUTHOR OF 'BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE,' 'CONSTANTINOPLE'
ASSISTED BY
RAMSAY TRAQUAIR, A.R.I.B.A. LECTURER ON ARCHITECTURE, COLLEGE OF ART, EDINBURGH
W. S. GEORGE, A.R.C.A., AND A. E. HENDERSON, F.S.A.
WITH MAPS, PLANS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1912
PREFACE
This volume is a sequel to the work I published, several years ago, under the title, Byzantine Constantinople: the Walls of the City, and adjoining Historical Sites. In that work the city was viewed, mainly, as the citadel of the Roman Empire in the East, and the bulwark of civilization for more than a thousand years. But the city of Constantine was not only a mighty fortress. It was, moreover, the centre of a great religious community, which elaborated dogmas, fostered forms of piety, and controlled an ecclesiastical administration that have left a profound impression upon the thought and life of mankind. New Rome was a Holy City. It was crowded with churches, hallowed, it was believed, by the remains of the apostles, prophets, saints, and martyrs of the Catholic Church; shrines at which men gathered to worship, from near and far, as before the gates of heaven. These sanctuaries were, furthermore, constructed and beautified after a fashion which marks a distinct and important period in the history of art, and have much to interest the artist and the architect. We have, consequently, reasons enough to justify our study of the churches of Byzantine Constantinople.
Of the immense number of the churches which once filled the city but a small remnant survives. Earthquakes, fires, pillage, neglect, not to speak of the facility with which a Byzantine structure could be shorn of its glory, have swept the vast majority off the face of the earth, leaving not a rack behind. In most cases even the sites on which they stood cannot be identified. The places which knew them know them no more. Scarcely a score of the old churches of the city are left to us, all with one exception converted into mosques and sadly altered. The visitor must, therefore, be prepared for disappointment. Age is not always a crown of glory; nor does change of ownership and adaptation to different ideas and tastes necessarily conduce to improvement. We are not looking at flowers in their native clime or in full bloom, but at flowers in a herbarium so to speak, or left to wither and decay. As we look upon them we have need of imagination to see in faded colours the graceful forms and brilliant hues which charmed and delighted the eyes of men in other days.
In the preparation of this work I have availed myself of the aid afforded by previous students in the same field of research, and I have gratefully acknowledged my debt to them whenever there has been occasion to do so. At the same time this is a fresh study of the subject, and has been made with the hope of confirming what is true, correcting mistakes, and gathering additional information. Attention has been given to both the history and the architecture of these buildings. The materials for the former are, unfortunately, all too scanty. No continuous records of any of these churches exist. A few incidents scattered over wide tracts of time constitute all that can be known. Still, disconnected incidents though they be, they give us glimpses of the characteristic thoughts and feelings of a large mass of our humanity during a long period of history.
The student of the architecture of these churches likewise labours under serious disadvantages. Turkish colour-wash frequently conceals what is necessary for a complete survey; while access to the higher parts of a building by means of scaffolding or ladders is often impossible under present circumstances. Hence the architect cannot always speak positively, and must leave many an interesting point in suspense.
Care has been taken to distinguish the original parts of a building from alterations made in Byzantine days or since the Turkish conquest; while, by the prominence given to the variety of type which the churches present, the life and movement observable in Byzantine ecclesiastical art has been made clear, and the common idea that it was a stereotyped art has been proved to be without foundation.
Numerous references to the church of S. Sophia occur in the course of this volume, but the reader will not find that great monument of Byzantine architectural genius dealt with in the studies here offered. The obstacles in the way of a proper treatment of that subject proved insuperable, while the writings of Salzenberg, Lethaby, and Swainson, and especially the splendid and exhaustive monograph of my friend Mr. E. M. Antoniadi, seemed to make any attempt of mine in the same direction superfluous if not presumptuous. The omission will, however, secure one advantage: the churches actually studied will not be overshadowed by the grandeur of the 'Great Church,' but will stand clear before the view in all the light that beats upon them.
I recall gratefully my obligations to the Sultan's Government and to the late Sir Nicholas O'Conor, British Ambassador at Constantinople, for permission to make a scientific examination of the churches of the city. To the present British Ambassador, Sir Gerard Lowther, best thanks are due for the facilities enjoyed in the study of the church of S. Irene.
I have been exceedingly fortunate in the architects who have given me the benefit of their professional knowledge and skill in the execution of my task, and I beg that their share in this work should be recognized and appreciated as fully as it deserves. To the generosity of the British School at Athens I am indebted for being able to secure the services of Mr. Ramsay Traquair, Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Lecturer on Architecture at the College of Art in Edinburgh. Mr. Traquair spent three months in Constantinople for the express purpose of collecting the materials for the plans, illustrations, and notes he has contributed to this work. The chapter on Byzantine Architecture is entirely from his pen. He has also described the architectural features of most of the churches; but I have occasionally introduced information from other sources, or given my own personal observations.
I am likewise under deep obligation to Mr. A. E. Henderson, F.S.A., for the generous kindness with which he has allowed me to reproduce his masterly plans of the churches of SS. Sergius and Bacchus, S. Mary Panachrantos, and many of his photographs and drawings of other churches in the city. I am, moreover, indebted to the Byzantine Research and Publication Fund for courteous permission to present here some of the results of the splendid work done by Mr. W. S. George, F.S.A., under unique circumstances, in the study of the church of S. Irene, and I thank Mr. George personally for the cordial readiness with which he consented to allow me even to anticipate his own monograph on that very interesting fabric. It is impossible to thank Professor Baldwin Brown, of the University of Edinburgh, enough, for his unfailing kindness whenever I consulted him in connection with my work. Nor do I forget how much I owe to J. Meade Falkner, Esq., for kindly undertaking the irksome task of revising the proofs of the book while going through the press.
I cannot close without calling attention to the brighter day which has dawned on the students of the antiquities of Constantinople since constitutional government has been introduced in the Ottoman Empire. Permission to carry on excavations in the city has been promised me. The archaeology of New Rome only waits for wealthy patrons to enable it to reach a position similar to that occupied by archaeological research in other centres of ancient and mediaeval civilizations. But the monuments of the olden time are perishable. Of the churches described by Paspates in his Byzantine Studies, published in 1877, nine have either entirely disappeared or lost more of their original features. It was no part of wisdom to let the books of the cunning Sibyl become rarer and knowledge poorer by neglecting to secure all that was obtainable when she made her first or even her second offer.
ALEXANDER VAN MILLINGEN.
Robert College, Constantinople.
Πόλις ἐκκλησιῶν γαλουχέ, πίστεως ἀρχηγέ, ὀρθοδοξίας ποδηγέ
Nicetas Choniates.
CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I
Byzantine Architecture 1
CHAPTER II
Church of S. John the Baptist of the Studion 35
CHAPTER III
Church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus 62
CHAPTER IV
Church of S. Irene 84
CHAPTER V
Church of S. Andrew in Krisei 106
CHAPTER VI
Church of S. Mary Panachrantos 122
CHAPTER VII
Church of S. Mary Panachrantos 138
CHAPTER VIII
Church of S. Theodosia 164
CHAPTER IX
Church of S. Mary Diaconissa 183
CHAPTER X
Church of SS. Peter and Mark 191
CHAPTER XI
Church of the Myrelaion 196
CHAPTER XII
Church of S. John the Baptist in Trullo 201
CHAPTER XIII
Church of S. Thekla 207
CHAPTER XIV
Church of S. Saviour Pantepoptes 212
CHAPTER XV
Church of S. Saviour Pantokrator 219
CHAPTER XVI
Church of S. Theodore 243
CHAPTER XVII
Monastery of Manuel 253
CHAPTER XVIII
Monastery of Manuel 262
CHAPTER XIX
Balaban Aga Mesjedi 265
CHAPTER XIX
Balaban Aga Mesjedi 265
CHAPTER XX
Church of the Gastria 268
CHAPTER XXI
Church of S. Mary of the Mongols 272
CHAPTER XXII
Bogdan Serai 280
CHAPTER XXIII
Church of S. Saviour in the Chora 288
CHAPTER XXIV
Mosaics and Frescoes in the Church of S. Saviour in the Chora 321
CHAPTER XXV
Dating and Classification of the Churches 332
BIBLIOGRAPHY 337
LIST OF EMPERORS 341
INDEX 343
PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
FIG. Page
1. Kasr Ibn Wardan 4
2. Deré Aghsy 6
3. Deré Aghsy (Section) 6
4. S. Nicholas, Myra 7
5. Church of the Koimesis, Nicaea 8
6. Church of the Koimesis, Nicaea (Section) 9
7. Map of Byzantine Constantinople facing 15
8. The Saucer Dome or Dome-Vault 16
9. The Dome on Pendentives 16
10. The Drum Dome 17
11. Diagram of Vaulting in Outer Narthex of S. Saviour in the Chora. 22
Church of S. John the Baptist of the Studion
12. Plan of the Church 56
13. Long Section 57
14. Cross Section, looking east 58
15. Cross Section, looking west 58
16. Elevation of the Narthex 59
17. Longitudinal Section of western portion of the Nave—Half-cross Section of the Nave 59
18. Details of the Narthex, Colonnade, Doors, Windows 60
19. Details of Doors; Details from Church of S. Theodore; Details from S. Saviour in the Chora 61
Church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus
20. Inscription on the Frieze in the Church 74
21. Exterior View of the Dome 77
22. Brick Stamps in the Church 79
23. Ground Plan (looking up) 80
24. Gynaeceum Plan (looking up) 80
25. Plan at base of Dome (Cross Section) 81
26. Transverse Section 81
27. Section through South Aisle 81
28. Constructive Section of the Interior Arrangement, showing Gynaeceum Floor, Vaulting, Roof, and Springing of Dome 82
29. Constructive Section of the Rear, with Gynaeceum, Floor, and Roof removed 82
30. Sections of Mouldings 83
Church of S. Irene
31. Ground Plan of the Atrium and Church facing 104
32. Gallery Plan " 104
33. Longitudinal Section " 104
34. South Elevation " 104
35. West Elevation 105
Church of S. Andrew in Krisei
36. Plan of the Church (restored) 118
37. Plan of the Church 119
38, 39. Longitudinal Sections 120
40. Isometrical Section (restored) 121
Church of S. Mary Panachrantos
41. Details of the Shafts in East Windows of South Church 124
42. Inscription on Apse of North Church 131
43. Plan of the Church (conjectural) 135
44. Plan of the Church 136
45. Section through the North Church 137
46. Section through the South Church 137
Church of S. Mary Pammakaristos
47. Plan of the Church (conjectural) 152
48. Brick Details from the Parecclesion 154
49. Inscribed String-course on Apse of the Parecclesion 157
50. Plan of the Church—Plan of the Parecclesion—Plan of the Gynaeceum in the Parecclesion facing 160
51. Cross Section of the Church, looking east 161
52. The Parecclesion, east end of south side 162
53. Sections in the Parecclesion—Plan of Dome in the Gynaeceum 163
Church of S. Theodosia
54. Interior of the Church, looking west 171
55. Details from the Church—Details from Church of S. Theodore—Capital and Shaft found near Unkapan Gate 174
56. Ground Plan 179
57. Plan of the Gynaeceum 180
58. Section in the Gynaeceum 181
59. Longitudinal Section of the Church 181
60. Isometrical Section, showing scheme 182
Church of S. Mary Diaconissa
61. Plan of the Church 189
62. Longitudinal Section 190
Church of Ss. Peter and Mark
63. Font in the street to the west of the Church—A Window in S. Saviour in the Chora 194
64. Plan of the Church 195
65. Longitudinal Section 195
Church of the Myrelaion
66. Plan of the Church 200
67. Longitudinal Section 200
Church of S. John the Baptist in Trullo
68. Details from the Church—Details from the Pammakaristos—Details from the Pantepoptes 203
69. Details from S. Andrew in Krisei—Details from the Chora 204
70. Plan of S. John in Trullo—Longitudinal Section—Plan of the Dome 206
Church of S. Thekla
71. Plan of the Church—Cross Section 206
Church of S. Saviour Pantepoptes
72. Sketches from the Church 213
73. Plan of the Church—Longitudinal Section 217
74. Details from the Church 218
Church of S. Saviour Pantokrator
75. Details from the Church—Details from S. Saviour Pantepoptes 225
76. Inlaid Marble Pavement in the Pantokrator—Tile Pavement in the Gallery of S. Theodosia 234
77. Plan of the Pantokrator facing 240
78. Longitudinal Section through the North Church 241
79. Longitudinal Section through through the Central Church 241
80. Longitudinal Section through through the South Church 242
Church of S. Theodore
81. Details from the Church 245
82. Plan of the Church by Texier 249
83. Part of South Elevation showing the Side Chapel by Texier 249
84. Plan of the Church 251
85. Longitudinal Section 251
86. Front Elevation—Half-Plan of Central Dome in the Narthex 252
87. South Elevation and Section through Vaulted Bay of Narthex—Half-Plan of Central Dome 252
Monastery of Manuel
88. Plan of the Refectory 261
Monastir Mesjedi
89. Plan of the Church—Cross Section 261
Balaban Mesjedi
90. Plan of the Building 267
91. Section 267
Church of the Gastria
92. Plan of the Church 267
Church of S. Mary of the Mongols
93. Exterior View 273
94. Interior View 274
95. The Dome (Interior View) 276
96. Plan of Church 279
97. Plan of S. Nicholas Methana 279
Bogdan Serai
98. Plan of Upper Chapel—Half-Section of Apse—Half-Section of East End—Longitudinal Section 287
Church of S. Saviour in the Chora
99. Details from the Church 305
100. Details of a Window in the Gallery 309
101. Plan of S. Sophia, Salonica 313
102. Plan of the Chora (restored) 314
103. Bay in the Chora (restored) 315
104. Plan of Church of the Archangels, Sygé 316
105. Plan of the Chora and the Parecclesion 317
106. Cross Section, looking west 318
107. Plan of Upper Gallery 318
108. Section through Church 319
109. Section through Chapel 319
110. Plan of Dome 320
111. Section through Inner Narthex 320
112. Plan of Gallery between the Church and the Parecclesion 320
113. Section of North Gallery 320
114. Plan of the Narthexes, indicating the positions of their Mosaics 321
115. Model of the Church in the Mosaic over Main Door in the Inner Narthex 326
116. Plan of the Parecclesion, indicating positions of its Frescoes 328
PLATES
I. Mediaeval Map of Constantinople by Bondelmontius Frontispiece
facing page
II. The Myrelaion (since it was burned). (1) From the north-west. (2) From the south-east 20
III. (1) The Myrelaion (since it was burned). The Interior, looking east. (2) Suleiman Aga Mesjedi 24
IV. (1) Bracket in S. Saviour in the Chora. (2) Sculptured Slab in S. Theodore. (3) S. Mary Diaconissa. Heads of Windows in south arm. (4) Sculptured Slab on the West Wall 28
Church of S. John of the Studion
V. The Ruined Interior, seen from the minaret of the mosque. (2) The West Side of the Church 36
VI. (1) Façade of the Narthex. (2) The Ruined Interior, at the West End of the North Side 40
VII. Entablature and Anta Capital in the Narthex. (2) Cornice in the Narthex, looking up 44
VIII. The Church from the south-east 48
IX. (1) The East End of the Church. (2) East End of the North Side of the Church 52
X. (1) The Cistern beside the Church. (2) Another View of the same 54
The Church of Ss. Sergius and Bacchus
XI. The Interior of the Church, looking north-west 62
XII. (1) A Capital in the Church. (2) A Capital in the Narthex of S. John of the Studion 66
XIII. (1) The Church from the south-east. (2) View in the Gallery over the Narthex 70
XIV. (1) The Interior of the Church, looking north-east. (2) Portion of the Entablature in the Church 74
XV. The Baptistery of the Church of S. Sophia. (1) The Exterior from the north-east. (2) The Interior of the Dome, showing Continuous Pendentives 76
The Church of S. Irene
XVI. The Church from the south-east 84
XVII. (1) The South Side. (2) The North Side 86
XVIII. The Interior, looking east 90
XIX. (1) Vaulting at the north-western Corner of the Atrium. (2) The Northern Arch of the Main Dome, seen from the South Gallery 92
XX. (1) Mosaic in the Soffit of an Arch. (2) Portion of the Mosaic Inscription on the Outer Arch of the Apse 96
XXI. (1) The Interior, looking west. (2) The Door at the East End of the North Aisle 98
XXII. (1) Vaulting over the South Aisle. (2) A Compartment of Vaulting in South Aisle, looking up 100
XXIII. (1) A Capital in the South Arcade. (2) Base of a Column in the South Aisle 102
The Church of S. Andrew in Krisei
XXIV. The East End of the Church 106
XXV. (1) The Church from the south-west. (2) The Interior, looking south 108
XXVI. (1) A Capital in the Inner Narthex. (2) A Capital in the Arcade under the West Dome Arch 110
XXVII. (1) A Capital in the Outer Narthex. (2) A Capital in the Outer Narthex 112
XXVIII. (1) View in the Outer Narthex. (2) View in the Inner Narthex, looking south 114
XXIX. (1) View in the Cloister. (2) View in the Courtyard 116
XXX. (1, 2, 3) Three Views of the Decorated Doorway in the Cloister 118
The Church of S. Mary Panachrantos
XXXI. (1) Vault of the Passage on the West of the Dome in the South Church. (2) The Interior of the North Church, looking north 122
XXXII. (1) The North Church, looking east. (2) The North Church, looking west 126
XXXIII. (1) The Diaconicon, looking east. (2) The Western Dome Arch in the South Church 128
XXXIV. (1) The East Window of the South Church. (2) The Outer Narthex, looking south 130
XXXV. (1) The East End of the South Church. (2) The East End of the North Church 132
Church of S. Mary Pammakaristos
XXXVI. (1) The Church from the south-east. (2) The Church from the west 138
XXXVII. (1) The Inner Narthex, looking south. (2) The Dome, looking west 142
XXXVIII. The Parecclesion from the south-east 144
XXXIX. (1) The East End of the Parecclesion. (2) The West Column in the Parecclesion 148
XL. (1) The East Column in the Parecclesion. (2) The Column flanking the East Window in the Apse of the Parecclesion. (3) The West Column in the Parecclesion 150
XLI. (1) Interior View of the Dome in the Parecclesion. (2) Mosaic in the Dome of the Parecclesion 154
XLII. South Side of the Parecclesion 156
Church of S. Theodosia
XLIII. (1) The East End of the Church. (2) The Church from the south-east 164
XLIV. (1) The Interior, looking north-east. (2) The Eastern Dome Arch 168
XLV. (1) The Dome over the Stairway to the Galleries. (2) The Narthex, looking north, and the Stairway to the Galleries 172
Church of S. Mary Diaconissa
XLVI. (1) The North-west Side, seen from the Aqueduct of Valens. (2) The North Arm, looking east 182
XLVII. (1) The Interior, looking north-east. (2) The Interior, looking south-east 184
XLVIII. (1) The Lower Part of the North Side of the East End. (2) The Upper Part of the North Side of the East End 186
XLIX. (1) South Eikon Frame. (2) Detail in the South Eikon Frame 188
L. (1) The Interior, looking west. (2) A Capital on the Column at the Entrance to the Church 190
Church of Ss. Peter and Mark
LI. (1) The Church from the south-east. (2) Font outside the Church 192
LII. (1) The Dome, looking north. (2) Looking across the Dome, from the south-west 194
Church of the Myrelaion
LIII. (1) The South Side of the Church. (2) The Narthex, looking north 196
LIV. (1) The Interior, looking east. (2) The south-west Angle of the Cross 198
LV. (1) S. John in Trullo from the south-west. (2) The Interior of Balaban Mesjedi 202
LVI. The Church of S. Thekla. (1) From the north-west. (2) The East End 208
The Church of S. Saviour Pantepoptes
LVII. (1) Door leading from the Outer to the Inner Narthex. (2) The Dome, looking west 212
LVIII. (1) Decoration in Brick on the Exterior of the South Wall. (2) Bracket in the Parecclesion of S. Mary Pammakaristost 214
Church of S. Saviour Pantokrator
LIX. The Church from the west 220
LX. (1) The Church from the north-west. (2) Fragments of Sculptured Marbles found in the Church 222
LXI. (1) Interior of the South Church, looking east. (2) The Southern Arm of the Church 224
LXII. (1) Entrance from the Narthex to the South Church. (2) Interior, looking from the South Church through into the North Church 226
LXIII. (1) The Gallery in the North Church, looking south. (2) Interior of the North Church, looking east 228
LXIV. (1) Arch in the North Wall of the South Church, seen from the South Church, looking north. (2) Arch in the North Wall of the South Church, seen from the Central Church, looking south 230
LXV. (1) Narthex of the North Church, looking north. (2) Outer Narthex of the South Church, looking north 232
LXVI. (1) South Bay in the Gallery of the South Church. (2) View in the North Church, looking south 234
LXVII. The Pulpit in the South Church. (2) West Side of the Central Bay in the Gallery of the South Church 236
LXVIII. (1) Interior of the East Dome in the Central Church. (2) Interior of the Dome in the South Church, looking north 238
LXIX. (1) The East End from the south. (2) East Window of the Central Church. (3) The East End from the north 242
Church of S. Theodore
LXX. (1) The North End of the Western Façade. (2) The Church from the north-west 244
LXXI. (1) The Central Dome from the south. (2) The Western Façade from the south 246
LXXII. (1) The South Cross Arm (exterior) from the south-east. (2) The East End from the south 248
LXXIII. (1) The Capital on the Southernmost Column in the Façade. (2) Capital in the Façade 250
LXXIV. (1) The Outer Narthex, looking north. (2) Capital on the North Side of the Door leading from the Outer to the Inner Narthex 254
LXXV. (1) The Interior, looking east. (2) The Interior (upper part), looking east 256
The Refectory of the Monastery of Manuel
LXXVI. (1) From the west. (2) From the south-east 258
LXXVII. Cistern of Aetius 262
Church of the Gastria
LXXVIII. (1) The Church from the east. (2) The Entrance 268
LXXIX. (1) The Church from the west. (2) The Interior 270
Bogdan Serai
LXXX. (1) The Apse in the Upper Chapel. (2) A Pendentive of the Dome. (3) The Chapel, from the north-west 280
Church of S. Saviour in the Chora
LXXXI. (1) The Church from the west. (2) The Church from the south-east 288
LXXXII. (1) The Church from the north-east. (2) The North Side of the Church 292
LXXXIII. (1) The Inner Narthex, looking south. (2) Another View of the same 296
LXXXIV. (1) A Capital in the Outer Narthex. (2) Another Capital in the Outer Narthex 300
LXXXV. (1) The Interior, looking north-west. (2) The Outer Narthex, looking south 304
LXXXVI. (1) The Eikon Frame on the South-eastern Pier. (2) The Interior, looking east 308
LXXXVII. (1) The Cornice above the Main Door (on the Interior). (2) The Archivolt on the North Wall of the Parecclesion. (3) Window Heads in the Central Apse 310
LXXXVIII. (1) The East End of the Parecclesion. (2) A Capital at the Entrance to the Parecclesion 314
LXXXIX. (1) The Parecclesion, looking south-east. (2) The Parecclesion, looking west 316
XC. (1) Mosaic representing the Miracle of Water turned into Wine. (2) Mosaic representing Mary caressed by her parents, and blessed by priests seated at a banquet 322
XCI. (1) Mosaic representing the Registration of Mary and Joseph at Bethlehem. (2) Mosaic representing Theodore Metochites offering the Church to Christ 326
XCII. The Archivolt on the South Wall of the Parecclesion, with the Epitaph in honour of Tornikes 330