Chora Church - an adventure to the outer walls of Istanbul

Frescoes in the Paracclesion
Originally uploaded by dhoopercu

We completed our tea in the Binbirdirek Cistern and still needed to get away from Obama-mania in Sultanahmet. We walked away from Sultanahmet towards Beyazit, and hung a right at the entrance to the Grand Bazaar.

The outskirts of the Grand Bazaar was abuzz with people hawking goods and products. They would do anything to entice you to make eye contact or look at their goods. The streets were crowded and joined other streets at impossible angles, nothing like the well ordered grid system known as Indianapolis. It felt more like a bad version of Boston's older sections (otherwise known at "drop cooked spaghetti on counter to make a road system").

We made it to Eminonu by the Galata bridge and spent 45 minutes trying to find a bus to take us out to the Chora Church. We eventually found the correct bus and we were on our way.

The Chora Church is located along the Theodosian Walls that protected Constantinople/Istanbul for 1400 years. The church was originally built in the early 400's, but the current building was finished from 1077-81 (thanks Wikipedia). The exterior has a few flying buttresses and is clad in red-and-white brick from the Byzantine era, and belies what is inside.

Between 1315-21, the inside of the Chora Church was adorned with elaborate frescoes and mosaics, essentially depicting every biblical story one can imagine. It is like a Cliff Notes of the Bible - every important story or individual is represented in painstaking detail. These include the Geneology of Christ as well as the Virgin Mary adorned inside two ribbed domes in the Inner Narthex, The Last Judgement in the Paracclesion, and (pictures) The Resurrection at the end of teh Paracclesion.

The Chora Church was converted into a mosque following Mehmet II's conquering of Constantinople. The Central Nave was stripped or whitewashed, and a mihrab was created where the alter once stood.

The Chora Church was stunning, one of the must sees in Istanbul! I would drop everything and go back to marvel at the detail contained in each depiction. A highlight of the trip!!!!!