DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0028
12
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OE BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE.
place, from the atrium of the church. This celebrated basilica was generally known in early times
as the Martyrium, from the Greek word martyr, meaning witness ; because it was an evidence
of the site of the Holy Sepulchre.1
In the year 325 the Empress Helena traversed the whole of Asia Minor, marking the
progress of her pilgrimage to Jerusalem by the foundation of institutions for the promotion of
piety, and for purposes of public utility. Her presence in the Holy City gave fresh impulse to the
researches commenced hy Constantine for the purpose of discovering the site of the Holy Sepulchre.
The birthplace of our Saviour was not less an object of veneration to the empress than
the Holy Sepulchre. The grotto where, according to tradition, Joseph and Mary lived, was
converted into a chapel. She built also the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, a magnificent
basilica still existing, though disfigured hy modern additions. We find that the arrangements of
this church correspond with the description given by Eusebius of the church of Constantine.
The columns of the nave are surmounted by architraves, but the capitals have not the additional
block which we have termed dosseret, which was invented in later times. There are four
ranges of columns, forming a nave and four aisles. The walls of the nave, from the capitals to
the roof, are adorned with pictures in mosaic, more modern additions, which, according to
Ciampini, were the work of the Emperor Manuel Comnenus in the twelfth century.2
The apse is separated from the nave hy a modern wall, which occupies the place of the
iconostasis or cancelli, separating the officiating priest from the public. This generally had three
doors into the nave, which were closed by curtains. The iconostasis became one of the most
ornamental features in Byzantine churches, and was, in general, a screen of great height,
decorated with columns of jasper, silver, or other precious material; between the columns
were arched compartments, containing paintings of our Saviour, the Blessed Virgin, St. John
the Baptist, and the Saint to whom the church was dedicated.
The doorways of the iconostasis in the church of Bethlehem, as in all the primitive
churches, were closed by curtains, which were let fall at the moment of consecration. This
custom dates from the earliest period of Christianity, and Ciampini thinks it was borrowed
by the Christians from the pagans.3 These curtains bring to mind the hangings of the palace
of Tlieodoric, king of the Goths, which are to be seen represented in mosaic in the church
of St. Apollinaris at Bavenna. These hangings were guarded by the silentiarii, so called because
they had to observe silence in the presence of the prince.
In the primitive Church the tabernacle was concealed from the eyes of the multitude by
curtains of this description, and was lighted by a lamp which burnt without ceasing.
All contemporary writers state that all the larger churches built by Constantine were in the
form of a stadium (Hf-oyuxiS 0-^rjfx.a.Ti), that is to say, oblong. The church of the Holy Apostles,
built at Constantinople by command of Constantine, was one of the most important works
undertaken by that prince. The church was in the form of a long nave, divided by a
transept, which was surmounted by a dome. This is the first example of a church in form of
a cross. Eusebius thus speaks of it: — “ The emperor erected a church in Constantinople
in honour of the memory of the twelve Apostles. The walls were covered with marble from
pavement to roof; the nave was ceiled; and the dome, as well as the roof, was covered with
plates of brass. Constantine caused his tomb to be erected in the centre of the church, in the
midst of twelve other monuments, which he had erected in form of columns, in honour of
the Apostles.”
This church was built in the middle of a great square, surrounded by colonnades and
habitations for the priests. There were also near it baths and fountains. It was damaged by an
earthquake soon after its erection, but was repaired by Justinian. In the present day its site
is occupied by the mosque of Mahomet II.
We ought to mention that the Homan basilicas, or law-courts, remained devoted to civil
purposes. Numerous examples of temples converted into churches may be cited; but with the
exception of the Licinian basilica at Home we know of no other “law court” that was used for
Christian worship.
The works that St. Helena executed at Jerusalem by order of Constantine were rendered
1 Eusebius, Life of Constantine, book iii. ch. 29, 3G. 3 Morem bunc velis ornandi januas ex gentibus ad fideles,
2 Ciampini, de JEcMficiis a Constantino Magno construc.tis, nempe ad ecclesias transiisse colligo ex nonnullarum ecclesiarum
p propylaeis.—Ciampini, de Veteribus Monumentis, &c., p. 140.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OE BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE.
place, from the atrium of the church. This celebrated basilica was generally known in early times
as the Martyrium, from the Greek word martyr, meaning witness ; because it was an evidence
of the site of the Holy Sepulchre.1
In the year 325 the Empress Helena traversed the whole of Asia Minor, marking the
progress of her pilgrimage to Jerusalem by the foundation of institutions for the promotion of
piety, and for purposes of public utility. Her presence in the Holy City gave fresh impulse to the
researches commenced hy Constantine for the purpose of discovering the site of the Holy Sepulchre.
The birthplace of our Saviour was not less an object of veneration to the empress than
the Holy Sepulchre. The grotto where, according to tradition, Joseph and Mary lived, was
converted into a chapel. She built also the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, a magnificent
basilica still existing, though disfigured hy modern additions. We find that the arrangements of
this church correspond with the description given by Eusebius of the church of Constantine.
The columns of the nave are surmounted by architraves, but the capitals have not the additional
block which we have termed dosseret, which was invented in later times. There are four
ranges of columns, forming a nave and four aisles. The walls of the nave, from the capitals to
the roof, are adorned with pictures in mosaic, more modern additions, which, according to
Ciampini, were the work of the Emperor Manuel Comnenus in the twelfth century.2
The apse is separated from the nave hy a modern wall, which occupies the place of the
iconostasis or cancelli, separating the officiating priest from the public. This generally had three
doors into the nave, which were closed by curtains. The iconostasis became one of the most
ornamental features in Byzantine churches, and was, in general, a screen of great height,
decorated with columns of jasper, silver, or other precious material; between the columns
were arched compartments, containing paintings of our Saviour, the Blessed Virgin, St. John
the Baptist, and the Saint to whom the church was dedicated.
The doorways of the iconostasis in the church of Bethlehem, as in all the primitive
churches, were closed by curtains, which were let fall at the moment of consecration. This
custom dates from the earliest period of Christianity, and Ciampini thinks it was borrowed
by the Christians from the pagans.3 These curtains bring to mind the hangings of the palace
of Tlieodoric, king of the Goths, which are to be seen represented in mosaic in the church
of St. Apollinaris at Bavenna. These hangings were guarded by the silentiarii, so called because
they had to observe silence in the presence of the prince.
In the primitive Church the tabernacle was concealed from the eyes of the multitude by
curtains of this description, and was lighted by a lamp which burnt without ceasing.
All contemporary writers state that all the larger churches built by Constantine were in the
form of a stadium (Hf-oyuxiS 0-^rjfx.a.Ti), that is to say, oblong. The church of the Holy Apostles,
built at Constantinople by command of Constantine, was one of the most important works
undertaken by that prince. The church was in the form of a long nave, divided by a
transept, which was surmounted by a dome. This is the first example of a church in form of
a cross. Eusebius thus speaks of it: — “ The emperor erected a church in Constantinople
in honour of the memory of the twelve Apostles. The walls were covered with marble from
pavement to roof; the nave was ceiled; and the dome, as well as the roof, was covered with
plates of brass. Constantine caused his tomb to be erected in the centre of the church, in the
midst of twelve other monuments, which he had erected in form of columns, in honour of
the Apostles.”
This church was built in the middle of a great square, surrounded by colonnades and
habitations for the priests. There were also near it baths and fountains. It was damaged by an
earthquake soon after its erection, but was repaired by Justinian. In the present day its site
is occupied by the mosque of Mahomet II.
We ought to mention that the Homan basilicas, or law-courts, remained devoted to civil
purposes. Numerous examples of temples converted into churches may be cited; but with the
exception of the Licinian basilica at Home we know of no other “law court” that was used for
Christian worship.
The works that St. Helena executed at Jerusalem by order of Constantine were rendered
1 Eusebius, Life of Constantine, book iii. ch. 29, 3G. 3 Morem bunc velis ornandi januas ex gentibus ad fideles,
2 Ciampini, de JEcMficiis a Constantino Magno construc.tis, nempe ad ecclesias transiisse colligo ex nonnullarum ecclesiarum
p propylaeis.—Ciampini, de Veteribus Monumentis, &c., p. 140.