Χρονολόγηση 11th century. Γεωγραφικός εντοπισμός Constantinople, Istanbul. Ονομασίες Eski Imaret Camii

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1 Περίληψη : The Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes was founded in Constantinople by Anna Dalassene, mother of the emperor and founder of the Komnenian dynasty Alexios I Komnenos. The monastic church, a typical example of the trends in Komnenian church-building, still stands and is known by the name of Eski Imaret Camii. Χρονολόγηση 11th century Γεωγραφικός εντοπισμός Constantinople, Istanbul Ονομασίες Eski Imaret Camii Περίοδος Τοπογραφικός εντοπισμός Region X, near the shores of Golden Horn 1. Foundation and ktetor (patron) The Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes was a religious institution of Anna Dalassene, emperor Alexios I Komnenos mother. Its foundation date can not be defined with absolute certainty, yet in all probability Anna Dalassene built her monastery in the beginning of her son s reign, who assumed power and was crowned emperor on the 1 st of April Without doubt by 1087 the monastery was completed and had started operating, because, then, estates are mentioned, donated much earlier by queen mother to her foundation. Based on evidence we know that the Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes until 1187 possessed the islands of Leros, Leipsoi and Pharmakos (Farmakonisi), 1 though it is not possible to name with accuracy the estates the monastery received, nor to estimate their real extent. Anna Dalassene, as one of the most powerful persons in the empire during the first decade of Alexios Komnenos reign, was able to make rich donations in the monastery she had recently erected, as well in other religious institutions. 2 Particularly discernible is the care Anna Dalassene took of the Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes as well of the Myrelaion Monastery in Constantinople (an emperor Romanos I Lekapenos foundation, built in ) in order that they receive important donations on estates. With regard to the organization of Pantepoptes Monastery there is no evidence. Anna Dalassene retired into her foundation after 1095, where she died and was buried at the beginning of the 12th century. 2. Consecration of the katholikon The consecration of the monastic katholikon to Christ Pantepoptes is unique in the Byzantine history. No other monastery in the capital city (and, as far as we know, nowhere else in the empire either) from all those dedicated to Christ, ever bore this epithet. Anna Dalassene s decision to dedicate her church to Christ Pantepoptes reveals a clear theological, as well as political statement. Anna Dalassene, who became a nun right after her husband s death, protovestiarios John Komnenos, on the 12 th of July 1067, by taking care her family s future and by working skillfully on secular policy, disclosed on Christ s epithet the right expression for her intensions. Christ Pantepoptes, from whose view and judgment nothing can escape, was the main foothold for Anna Dalassene in the huge political struggle for supremacy over the interior of the byzantine aristocracy during the 60 and the 70 of the 11 th century. Christ Pantepoptes had a special symbolic meaning for Anna Dalassene, by operating as a guarantee for the rightness of her positions and her efforts as well as a judge to whom she could trust the fate of her adversaries from rival aristocratic families. In this sense Anna Dalassene perceived this particular epithet of Christ, something that can be verified from the fact that it became Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/6

2 one of the basic key-words during the following decades. This epithet of Christ, which occurs very rarely in the oldest Byzantine ecclesiastical literature, 3 became very important since the time Anna Dalassene brought it into relief, by dedicating to Christ Pantepoptes her monastic church. Already in the Precepts of emperor Alexios Komnenos to his son John the Muses, a text written late in Alexios Komnenos reign or in the beginning of his son John s reign (around 1118), the word pantepoptes occupies a very prominent place. In this work pantepoptes has a slightly threatening meaning, in the way Anna Dalassene understood and used it, too Alexios Komnenos advises his son to be fair and just, because Christ is Pantepoptes (All-seeing) and from Him nothing can be hidden. The epithet pantepoptes has also a special meaning for the next Comnenian generations, as it is mentioned in the mid-12 th century typikon of the Monastery of Panagia Kosmosoteira (Saviour of the World), near the city of Pherae in Thrace, which was erected by sebastokrator Isaak, emperor Alexios I Komnenos third son. This ex-insurgent against his brother John II Komnenos resigned from his initial thought to be buried in the Chora Monastery in Constantinople, which he had restored and was dedicated to Christ Saviour, and decided to retire in Thrace. In his new monastic typikon, sebastokrator Isaak highlights his toil for the monastery s erection as well the difficulties of his life, consigning all of his hopes to Christ Pantepoptes and to Panagia, which he also names pantepoptria. 4 That way he also projected the political significance of Christ s epithet pantepoptes, which Anna Dalassene, the mother of Komnenoi, set the norm of, by her personal imposition in Byzantine politics and everyday life. Her descendance by using the epithet pantepoptes referred to her own authority and political legacy. 3. Location The Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes was located in Constantinople s Region X, a part of the city in which all of the Komnenoi, starting with Anna Dalassene, paid particular attention. The katholikon until recently was identified with certainty with Eski Imaret Camii, based on the assumption that from the whole monastic complex only this still remains. Cyril Mango, 5 based on a plan that had never been studied before, tried in 1998 to prove that the Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes was laying a little northern and much closer to the Golden Horn than it was previously considered to be, but his opinion remains also a theory for the time being. 4. Architecture The Christ Pantepoptes church (if the identification of Eski Imaret Camii is correct) was of middle size (inner dimensions: 14,5 11 m.). This is a typical example of the complex four-column domed cross-in-square type. The church has three apses in the east. The central one, the widest, is semi-circular enclosed in a five-sided external wall, while the two lateral apses, the smaller ones, are semicircular enclosed in a three-sided external wall. The dome rests on a twelve-sided drum, 13 m. in diameter: the edges of all sides are articulated with built colonnettes. Each side has an arched window. The windows are inscribed into shallower small niches, while the colonnettes also support arched rows of dogtooth frets that crown the recessed small niches of the windows and form the corrugated cornice of the dome. That way the dome is formed in a plastic manner and gives the impression of much lighter proportions. The church has two narthexes: an exonarthex, roofed lower than the rest of the church, obviously an addition during the Palaeologan period, and an esonarthex. Both narthexes are divided on the inner side into three parts connected with each other through arched openings. The compartments of the narthexes are groin-vaulted, except the central part of the exonarthex, crowned with a small dome. Particular interest presents the gallery that extends over the esonarthex and the western lateral compartments of the main church. On the east side of the gallery, at the center (on the drum of the western arm of the cross), there is a tribelon towards the main church, the lobes separated from each other with marble colonnettes. The gallery must have been for the donor. On its corners small areas are formed, with windows which open into the main church, thus offering more isolation. The areas of the gallery are roofed with groin vaults. 6 In the main church, the four columns that must have initially borne the weight of the dome were replaced during the Ottoman period by octagonal pilasters. The north and the south cross arms ended in three-foiled openings, replaced now with walls. On the drums Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/6

3 above these openings were two rows of windows, according to the south side, which preserves its initial phase. The lower row included three single-light windows at the same level, while of the higher row the central window was higher than the lateral ones. On the east side there is a three-partite sanctuary. The areas of the pastophories are broadened with niches on their north, west and south walls and are groin-vaulted. With groin vaults are roofed the lateral compartments of the main church, too. 7 The church combines elements of the Macedonian church-building with experimentations that are about to become typical elements of the Comnenian church-building. The new elements are visible mainly on the church s outer formation and decoration. The recessed small niches that shape the walls, the formation of the central apse with niches and windows, the corrugated cornice of the dome with the dog-tooth fret and the brickwork patterns and the use of stone testify the evolution of the 11 th -century church-building. The recessed brick technique, which spread the following decades in Constantinople, was applied to the church wall-masonry, while on its upper part ashlar, following the cloisonné masonry technique, was used for decorative reasons. Meanders and rosettes are used among other brickwork patterns, while the cornices were articulated with dog-tooth frets Later history The Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes also played an important role during the following centuries because of its status and wealth. It was often used (along with the nearby Monastery of Christ Pantokrator) as a place of confinement for eminent functionaries. After the Fall of Constantinople by the knights of the IV Crusade, the monastery came under the authority of the Benedict monks of the monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore, while after the Recapture of Constantinople by the Byzantines it returned to Orthodox hands. The Pantepoptes monks are mentioned during the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos and his son Andronikos II relating to the Arsenite affair: In 1268 the monks of the Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes, ardent Arsenites, were the main opponents of Patriarch Joseph and of Michael VIII himself. From the monastic ranks of this particular monastery came also the patriarch Athanasios ( and ). 9 After the Fall of Constantinople, the church was converted into a mosque, for whose needs a minaret was built in the southwest corner of the church. Buildings of the monastery were used to house the clerical school and the poor house (Imaret, from which the Turkish name of the church derives) of Fatich Camii, the mosque of Mehmed the Conqueror (where the Church of the Holy Apostles once tood). It is presumed that various buildings of the monastery were gradually destroyed by fire, while even the minaret of the Ottoman period is not preserved today except at foundation level. In 1970 the monument was restored Miklosich, F. Müller, J. (ed.), Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana 6 (Wien 1890), pp and Janin, R., La géographie ecclésiastique de l Empire byzantin 1: Le siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Œcuménique 3: Les églises et les monastères (Paris ), p In the period before the erection of the monastery by Anna Dalassene, Michael Psellos in one of his poems mentions this epithet of Christ, which became important after the monastery s erection by Anna Dalassene. See Michaelis Pselli Poemata, Westerink, L. G. (ed.) (Stuttgart Leipzig 1992), no. 56, col Cf. also Constantine Manasses, who used the epithet pantepoptes in his Chronicle, see Constantini Manassis Breviarum chronicum, Lampsidis, O. (ed.) (Athens 1996), p and ), and in his poem on the embassy to Antioch, see. Horna, K. (ed.), Das Hodoiporikon des Konstantin Manasses, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 13 (1904), pp Isaak writes in his monastery s typikon: «Εὔ χομαι οὖ ν τῷ παντεπόπτῃ Θεῷ παραταθῆ ναι τὸ ἐ πίλοιπον τῆ ς ἡμετέρας ζωῆ ς εἰ ς ἀποπλήρωσιν ἀσφαλεστέραν τῶν διατεταγμένων καὶ εἰ ς ἀνέγερσιν τῶν ἐ ν τῇ Αἴ νῳ» ("Typikon of Kosmosoteira", col ) and above, in the beginning of the text: «...τῇ πρὸς τὴ ν ἡ μῶν εὐ εργέτιδά τε Θεοτόκον καὶ κοσμοσώτειραν, ἣ ν οὕ τως ἐ ν ἅπασιν ἀρραγῆ συνεργὸν προκαλούμεθα, ἐ πειδήπερ ὦ πανόπτρια παμβασίλισσα, λέξαιμι τῇ σῇ ἐ πικουρίᾳ τὰ τοῦ ἀθλίου κατὰ τὸ παρὸν νοός μου γεννήματα και βουλήματα» (as above, col ). For the most recent edition of the typikon, see Pappazoglou, G., «Τυπικόν Ισαακίου Αλεξίου Κομνηνού της μονής Θεοτόκου της Κοσμοσωτείρας», Θρακική Βιβλιοθήκη 3 (1994), p Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/6

4 5. Mango C., Where at Constantinople was the Monastery of Christos Pantepoptes?, Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας 20 (1998), pp Mathews, T. F., The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul: A Photographic Survey (University Park London 1976), p Krautheimer, R., Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture (New Haven London ), p. 361; Mathews, T. F., The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul: A Photographic Survey (University Park London 1976), p. 59. For a brief presentation of the monument s architecture, see also Freely, J. Çakmak, A. S., Byzantine Monuments of Istanbul (Cambridge New York 2004), pp Krautheimer, R., Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture (New Haven London ), p. 361; Mango, C., Byzantine Architecture (London 1986), p Janin, R., La géographie ecclésiastique de l'empire byzantin 1: Le siège de Constantinople et le Patriarcat Œcuménique 3: Les églises et les monastères (Paris ), p Mathews, T. F., The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul: A Photographic Survey (University Park London 1976), p. 59. See also Freely, J. Çakmak, A. S., Byzantine Monuments of Istanbul (Cambridge New York 2004), p Βιβλιογραφία : Krautheimer R., Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, 4 ed., Yale University Press, New Haven London 1986, Krautheimer, R. Ćurčić, S. (rev.) Cheynet J.-C., Vannier J.F., Études prosopographiques, Paris 1986, Byzantina Sorbonensia 5 Mathews T.F., The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul. A Photographic Survey, University Park London 1976 Müller-Wiener W., Bildlexikon zur Topographie Istanbuls, Byzantion Konstantinupolis Istanbul bis zum Beginn d. 17. Jhs., Tübingen 1977 Freely J., Cakmak A.S., Byzantine Monuments of Istanbul, Cambridge New York 2004 Janin R., La géographie ecclésiastique de l'empire byzantin 3. Les églises et les monastères, Paris 1953 Ousterhout R.G., "Some Notes on the Construction of Christos ho Pantepoptes (Eski Imaret Camii) in Istanbul", Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 16, , Mango C., "Where at Constantinople was the Monastery of Christos Pantepoptes?", Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 20, 1998, Stanković V., Komnini u Carigradu ( ). Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd 2006 Δικτυογραφία : Eski Imaret Mosque The Byzantine Churches of Istanbul - IFA Christos ho Pantepoptes Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/6

5 Γλωσσάριo : arsenitai Followers and supporters of patriarch Arsenios Autoreianos, who had excommunicated Michael VIII Palaiologos. Michael managed to get rid of Arsenios in 1265; from that time, Arsenios followers were at odds with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, refusing to recognize Arsenios successors to the patriarchal throne. Politically they supported the Lascarid dynasty and opposed the dynasty of the Palaiologoi. The dispute was resolved in Brickwork patterns the decoration of the exterior walls of Byzantine churches with bricks, or other enclosed ceramics in various shapes and combinations. cross- (groin-) vault A vault formed over square or rectangular spaces by the interpenetration of two barrel-vaults of equal hight and diameter. The lines of the intersection form a diagonal cross. cross-in-square church Type of church in which four barrel-vaulted bays form a greek cross; the central square of their intersection is domed. The cross is inscribed into the square ground plan by means of four corner bays. donor Whoever subscribes, financialy, to the errection of a certain structure (monument etc). In the case of the buildings, donors might lawfully relate to them via a special connection (usufruct or other). exonarthex (outer narthex) The transverse vestibule or portico preceding the narthex of the church. katholikon The main church in a monastic complex, heart of the monastic activity. pastophoria (parabemata) Rooms or places that as a rule surrounded the apse, next to to the Holy Bema, of the Paleochristian or Byzantine churches, namely the diakonikon and the prothesis. protovestiarios (and protovestiarites) Honorific title given to high-ranking officials and future emperors during this period. The protovestiarios was originally responsible for the imperial wardrobe, but in the 9th-11th centuries the holders of the title could command an army or conduct negotiations with foreign states. recessed brick technique A masonry technique in which bands of wider and smaller bricks are alternated. The smaller bricks rows are slightly recessed and covered with mortar, thus creating an alternation of red (brick) and light colored (mortar) surfaces. typikon Foundation document of a monastery compiling the rules regarding its administrative organization and liturgic rituals, as well as the comportment inside a cenobitic monastery. The monastic typika could also include the biography (vita) of the monastery founder along with a catalogue of the movable or immovable property of the monastery. They constitute an important source for the study of the monastic life, while at the same time they shed light on many aspects of the Byzantine society. The liturgical typika were calendars with instructions for each day s services, liturgical books with rules arranging the celebration rituals. Πηγές Reinsch, D. R. Kambylis, A. (επιμ.), Annae Comnenae Alexias (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 40, Berlin New York 2001). Van Dieten, J. (επιμ.), Nicetae Choniatae historia (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 11, Berlin New York 1975). Miklosich, F. Müller, J. (επιμ.), Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana 6 (Wien 1890), pp , Maas, P., Die Musen des Kaisers Alexios I, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 22 (1913), pp Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/6

6 Παπάζογλου, Γ., «Τυπικόν Ισαακίου Αλεξίου Κομνηνού της μονής Θεοτόκου της Κοσμοσωτείρας», Θρακική Βιβλιοθήκη 3 (1994), pp Παραθέματα Alexios I Komnenos donations to the Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes: ἔχει γὰρ οὑτωσὶ τὰ τῆς ὑποθέσεως, τὴν νῆσον Λέρον καὶ τὸ νησίδιον τὴν Λειψὼ καὶ τὴν ἑτέραν νῆσον τὴν Φαρμακὸν προεδωρήσατο τῇ μονῇ τοῦ Παντεπόπτου τὸ κράτος ἡμῶν ἐξ ὁλοκλήρου, καθὼς εἰσίν... Miklosich, F. Müller, J. (επιμ.), Acta et diplomata graeca medii aevi sacra et profana 6 (Wien 1890), P. 26. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/6