Last update:
August 20th
2012

livingroom marriage rings

corner Saints Sergius and Bacchus' Churches - Turkey 1 - Instanbul corner
bottom

logo

top

bottom

logo

top

bottom

logo

top

bottom

logo

top

decorative bar

TURKEY - INSTANBUL - LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA


The church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus is a landmark in Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture. To this day, it is known as the "Little Hagia Sophia" (Kücük Aya Sofya), because its general plan is a precursor of that of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia and the principles of its architecture are comparable with those of the Great Church.


old monastery
Reconstruction of old monastery

The church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus was founded by Justinian probably in 527, the first year of his reign, shortly before the Saint (Hagia) Sophia. Justinian reputedly dedicated the church to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in thanksgiving for an act of super-natural intercession which saved him from execution prior to becoming emperor.

Procopius writes the church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus and the church of the Sts. Peter and, erected on the same site and in the same year, had a common atrium. The architectural type selected for each of these contiguous churches provides an indication of Justinian's ecumenical intentions.


Plan
Sts. Sergius and Bacchus - Section & Plan

For the church of Sts. Peter and Paul, who were particularly venerated in the West, he chose the basilical type, a plan widely used in the western provinces. For the church of the two Sts. Sergius and Bacchus - The martyrs of the East, he decided on an octagonal centralIy-planned building, a type commonly found in the eastern provinces of the Empire, especially in Syria and Palestine.

The edifice belongs to the centralized type and the octagon is inscribed in an irregular rectangle with niches at the corners, a semicircular apse to the east (sanctuary) and a narthex to the west. The eight piers of the octagon have a pair of columns in between, forming a peristylar circular ambulatory with an upper gallery.


Drawing 1877
Sts. Sergius and Bacchus - Drawing by D. Galanakis for A. G. Paspatis' book, Byzantine Studies (1877) p. 332-333.

The arrangement of piers and columns is repeated on the gallery, with the only difference that the 16 columns on the ground-level carry a trabeated entablature where-as the 18 columns of the gallery carry triple arcades crowned by half-domes. The columns are made of coloured marble and the interior of the church shone with its variegated marble walls and the lavishness of its golden mosaic decoration.

Eight pendentives at the angles of the octagon and the arches of the half-domes support the central "pumkin" dome. The execution of the plan presents a certain clumsiness, possibly suggesting that the architects had not yet mastered the new technique.


Istambul mosque mosque entrance
The actual aspect - Interior

back view
The actual aspect - Back view

side view
The actual aspect - Side view

The entablature of white marble carried by the columns of coloured marble and the piers on the ground-floor is exquisitely carved in a variety of motifs. An inscription of twelve verses (probably composed by a court poet), in beautiful uncial lettering along the entire length of the frieze, exalts the majesty of "the pious holder of the sceptre Justinian" and of "the God-crowned Theodora". The monograms of Justinian and Theodora were carved on the fine lace-like marble capitals.

As described by Procopius, the interior of the church shone with its variegated marble revetments and the lavishness of its mosaic decoration on a gold ground. Today, nothing seems to have survived beneath the plaster coating of the walls and piers, but even deprived of its original decorations the interior of this monument is one of the finest in Constantinople. Tradition has it that Bishop Ecclesius carried to Ravenna the plans of the church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus for the building of S. Vitale.


mosque interior
Interior of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus church in Instanbul used today as a mosque.

The monastery of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus is also known as "monastery of Hormisdas" from the name of the district near the sea-walls where Justinian resided as heir to the throne. Du Cange informs us that the Latin clergy of Constantinople officiated in the church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus and also that Papal envoyees arriving at the Hormisdas harbour were given hospitality in the monastery.

The names of Paul and Gregory, abbots of the monastery of Hormisdas, are included in the list of prelates present at the Councils of 536 and 787 respectively. ln 1073 the church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus is mentioned by pilgrims.


mosque central dome
The central dome

The holy relic of the skull of St. John Chrysostom is said to have been one of the most prized possessions of the church. No reference exists after 1427.

In 1509 sultan Bayezid II converted the church of the Sts. Sergius and Bacchus into a mosque, the Huseyin Aga mosque. The Turks destroyed the apse and whitewashed the frescoes and mosaics on the walls. The atrium was replaced by a peristyle, surviving to this day, and a courtyard where the medrese (religious school) stands today.

TURKEY - INSTANBUL - S. SAVIOUR IN CHORA (KARIYE CAMII) MUSEUM


Made between 1315 and 1321, this byzantine fresco represents St. Bacchus, one of the two protector saints of the Byzantine army. Possibly for this reason this image was severely damaged by the muslim invaders, and even more was damaged the nearby image of St. Sergius, whose face was almost totally erased. It is in the in the parecclesion of Constantinople's Chora Church (Kariye Camii), now a secular museum in Istanbul.


fresco

decorative bar

backbacknext

corner © Matt & Andrej Koymasky, 2012 corner
navigation map
recommend
corner
corner
If you can't use the map, use these links
HALL Lounge Living Room Memorial
Our Bedroom Guests Room Library Workshop
Links Awards Map
corner
corner