In a last European adventure until the baby comes, we hopped the ferry one more time and traveled outside the old city walls to see the Chora Church. It was originally called the Church of the Holy Saviour Outside the Walls and was built in the late 11th century, with almost all of the mosaics and frescoes funded by Theodore Metochites, a poet who worked in the treasury of Emperor Andronikos II.
The dome in the Parecclesion (a side chapel) with Mary and the Child Jesus surrounded by twelve attendant angels, and a mosaic of St. Peter holding the keys of Heaven.
Prince is enjoying his view of the brilliantly colorful marble used in the apse, and the mosaic over the doorway is Jesus Christ holding the Holy Book in His left hand while His right hand makes the sign of blessing. The inscription says “Jesus Christ and the Land of the Living.”
This fresco is over Jesus pulling Adam and Eve out of their sarcophagi, with the gates of Hell torn in pieces beneath Jesus’ feet.
It was one of the most beautiful churches we’ve ever visited, and probably our favorite. We’ve never seen such complete, intricate mosaics and frescoes before.
