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Istanbul. Between Cross and Crescent Moon
Sezione 1
Sezione 2
Church of the Holy Savior in Chora
Irene of Athens. 797 AD
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The Holy Savior in Chora
preserves some of the most fascinating mosaics and frescoes
in all of Constantinople, which represent the highest point of Byzantine art. All of this makes this church a true jewel! The term Chora refers to its location in the countryside; in fact, the structure stood outside the city walls. Like the prestigious St. Sophia, the most important Byzantine building in the world,
the magnificent church of the Holy Savior in Chora is also of enormous artistic value. The original church was built at the beginning of the 5th century, not far from the walls erected by Emperor Constantine in the previous century. During the reign of Justinian, the monastery was devastated by an earthquake, one of many that struck the city,
and the church was rebuilt as a basilica. However, later on, when Theodosius II enlarged the city walls with powerful works, the church was incorporated into the urban fabric of Constantinople. It was in the early fifth century, but even though it became an intimate part of the city, the church retained the name "Chora". The mosaics of the Chora are quite important,
from a historical point of view; they are among the most recent of the Byzantine school and reveal the most advanced stage of mosaic technique. When you stand in front of them, you'll notice the very small tiles and a certain three-dimensionality of the compositions, something that did not appear at all in the previous mosaics.
Sezione 3
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