Photographer's Note
Another view of this fantastic church, first a Byzantine Christian Church, then a Mosque & now a museum. There has been some damage from earthquakes over the centuries hence the missing tiles. No flash or tripods are allowed so I think this is a reasonable result. From Wikipedia:
"The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora (Turkish Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Kilisesi — the Chora Museum, Mosque or Church) is considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of a Byzantine church.[1] The church is situated in Istanbul, in the Edirnekapı neighborhood, which lies in the western part of the municipality (belediye) of Fatih. In the 16th century, during the Ottoman era, the church was converted into a mosque and, finally, it became a museum in 1948. The interior of the building is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes. The Chora Church was originally built as part of a monastery complex outside the walls of Constantinople, to the south of the Golden Horn. Literally translated, the church's full name was the Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country: although "The Church of the Holy Redeemer in the Fields" would be a more natural rendering of the name in English. (Greek ἡ Ἐκκλησία του Ἅγιου Σωτῆρος ἐν τῃ Χώρᾳ, hē Ekklēsia tou Hagiou Sōtēros en tēi Chōrai).[2] The last part of that name, Chora, referring to its location originally outside of the walls, became the shortened name of the church. The original church on this site was built in the early 5th century, and stood outside of the 4th century walls of Constantine the Great. However, when Theodosius II built his formidable land walls in 413–414, the church became incorporated within the city's defences, but retained the name Chora. The name must have carried symbolic meaning, as the mosaics in the narthex describe Christ as the Land of the Living (ἡ Χώρα των ζώντων, hē Chōra tōn zōntōn) and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the Container of the Uncontainable (ἡ Χώρα του Ἀχώρητου, hē Chōra tou Achōrētou).
The majority of the fabric of the current building dates from 1077–1081, when Maria Dukaina, the mother-in-law of Alexius I Comnenus, rebuilt the Chora Church as an inscribed cross or quincunx: a popular architectural style of the time. Early in the 12th century, the church suffered a partial collapse, perhaps due to an earthquake. The church was rebuilt by Isaac Comnenus, Alexius's third son. However, it was only after the third phase of building, two centuries after, that the church as it stands today was completed. The powerful Byzantine statesman Theodore Metochites endowed the church with much of its fine mosaics and frescos."
pierrefonds, pierrefonds, msadurski, jjcordier, delpeoples, Angshu has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
COSTANTINO
(42744) 2013-03-02 10:05
Hello
excellent capture of the interior of the
church,thanks for sharing with us such
a capture with so interesting notes
have a nice Sunday
regards
Costantino
besnard
(48755) 2013-03-02 10:06
Bonsoir Chris
Une superbe oeuvre d'art avec des douces couleurs, une bonne netteté et un bon cadrage.
Bravo et bon week-end.
Nicole
mesutilgim
(67888) 2013-03-02 10:30
Hello dear Chris,
One of my most beloved corners of my homecity !
If I knew that you visited İstanbul, I would help you at least to use a tripod.
This amazing Byzantine frescoe in the exonarthes of the famous Chora Church in İstanbul is one of the bests o it's art.
And I remembver quite well, that a team from US cleaned its surface with a very keen and sophisticated work.
My only poroblem here is, that your entry is been oversaturaded.
I made a WS comparing with the original colors and shall post soon.
Anyhow nice entry.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM
siudzi
(23837) 2013-03-02 10:34
Hi Chris,
This painting is extremely beautiful and you had a good idea for taking this picture from that POV. Great sharpness and saturation results achieved. Very well done. TFS.
Best,
Gosia
pierrefonds
(48301) 2013-03-02 10:46
Hi Chris,
The tight frame is putting this area of the ceiling in evidence. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the artwork decorating the ceiling. The surrounding light is making the colors to stand out. Have a nice day.
Pierre
Silvio1953
(98001) 2013-03-02 11:09
Ciao Chris, great view of fantastic cieling, splendid clarity, fine details and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio
Nicou
(97543) 2013-03-02 23:09
Hello
fantastique vue et compo superbe dessin de maître et oeuvre d'art grandiose image quelle couleur et ce d^cadrage une splendide.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou
jjcordier
(62280) 2013-03-02 23:20
Chris
La version de Mesut est peut-être plus proche de la réalité mais j'aime les couleurs de ta photo. Très joli cadrage et belle qualité d'image.
Amicalement
JJ
delpeoples
(44900) 2013-03-02 23:25
Gidday Chris
I love Byzantine churches and this is so attractive. The tight framing is wonderful and the image has been illuminated beautifully. Nice work, I like it alot.
Best regards
Lisa
emka
(58024) 2013-03-02 23:31
Hi Chris, Indeed, Chora church is fantastic and it is great example of Byzantine architecture (in Byzantium ;)). No flash or tripod allowed but at least it is possible to make photos, not always it is so. Excellent result. I was also in this church, rather far away of other Istanbul monuments, but it was in predigital era.
Warm regrads
MAlgo
Miguel82
(7693) 2013-03-03 4:48
Magnific painting Chris, superb interior, so ancient and well maintained
Good note about the earthquake
Have a good We
dkmurphys
(36727) 2013-03-04 2:48
Hi Chris,
Very attractive religious art. A common image in my orthodox country. Well seen.
Daniel
SnapRJW
(18674) 2013-03-04 4:22
Hello Chris - What a magnificent fresco. I like your nice tight crop and and impressed with the fine detail. Warm regards Rosemary
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Chris Jules (ChrisJ)
(86798) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2013-02-09
- Categories: Artwork
- Camera: Minolta XG1
- Exposure: f/4.2, 1/15 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2013-03-02 10:01
Discussions
- To mesutilgim: Thanks (1)
by ChrisJ, last updated 2013-03-02 10:42 - To Angshu: Chora Church (1)
by ChrisJ, last updated 2013-03-06 03:32









