Church of Our Savior in Chora/ Chora Church
Originally built in 5th century, rebuilt aprox. 527-565 AD
Istanbul Turkey

The mosaics show depictions of holy figures and saints and worshipers. The flattened (2D) style is typical to Byzantine mosaics. The imagery shows the styles and colors of clothing. It also depicts a dome-like covering held up with four slender (possible corinthian inspired) columns.

Theodore Metochites, a Byzantine politician, donated the mosaics and frescoes in Chora Church. In 1500 the church was converted into a mosque and the frescoes were covered in plaster. They were restored in 1948.

 

 

Built originally probably by Emperor Constantine I; rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I; renovated by Maria Dukaina, mother-in-law of Emperor Alexius I; rebuilt again by Isaac Comnenus, Emperor Alexius’s son; 14th century mosaics and frescos were mostly donated by Byzantine Politician Theodore Metochites; converted into a mosque by Atik Ali Pasa, Vizier of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II; Thomas Whittemore and Paul A. Underwood from the Byzantine Institute of America and the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies sponsored the restorations. Church of Our Savior in Chora / Chora Church / Church of the Holy Savior in the Country / The Church of the Holy Redeemer in the Fields, Inner Narthex, The Presentation of Virgin Mary to the Temple, Mosaic, Detail. Originally built in the early 5th century AD; rebuilt circa 527-565 AD within the city’s 5th century AD fortification; current building dates from the extensive renovations done circa 1077-1081; damaged in the 12th century probably by an earthquake and later rebuilt; the church was completed only in the 14th century; decorations of the interior done circa 1315-1321; circa 1500 converted into a Mosque; in 1948 the building underwent restorations; in 1958 it was opened to the public as a secularized museum, Image: April, 2010. Artstor, library.artstor.org/asset/ASITESPHOTOIG_10313840821