Church of Chora Monastery in Constantinople (continued)
Part II
On Architecture
It is known that the first building of the church choir belongs to the 5 in BC But it was razed.
In its place in the years 1077-81. was erected a new church, built mother-in-the emperor Alexis Comnenus - Maria Duca.
The church choir was completed after coming to power Paleologo, 1315-21/54 in years. Churchwarden acts already mentioned Logofet (court adviser) Theodore Metohija.
When Metohija monastery became a big complex with a public hospital, dining room, a monastery of monks took to and from Central Asia and other regions of the empire, owned a vast and rich library. When it was rebuilt nave, narthex added two, external and internal, to the west and the south - pareklession (side chapel), which you can get in only through the narthex.
The records Metohija writes about his intention to leave the monastery in old age - something that in the long light of what happened.
With the advent of the grandson of Andronicus II, Andronicus III, in 1328 Mr. Metohita political career came to an end, and he was expelled from Constantinople. In 1330 he succeeded Mr. return to the capital of the empire and settle in the monastery founded by him. He had lived there for two years normal monk, then, in 1332g. died. His tomb is located in the south aisle of the church choir.
As a result of mutations and dostroek, the temple combines the architecture of 11 and 14 centuries. On the one hand, it has major forms typical of early Byzantine architecture, on the other - a complex plastic walls, monuments pozdnevizantiyskoy inherent in architecture.
Yet the main value of the house, and the main interest - is his pictorial decorations.
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