Description of Interior | Kariye Camii | Briefing | Professor Ousterhout

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Kariye Camii | Description of Interior
Professor Ousterhout

The principal interior spaces include: The outer and inner narthexes, located on the west facade, served as entry vestibules. The narthexes preserve mosaics, marble revetments, and sculpture.

Outer Narthex (exonarthex): the principal point of entry into the church, was opened by an arcaded portico facade and originally had a belfry at the southwest corner. The outer narthex contains mosaics with scenes from Christ's infancy and ministry.

Inner Narthex (esonarthex): the space leading directly into the naos, contains mosaics with scenes from the life of the Virgin

Naos: the main space for worship and ritual, in the center of the building and covered by a dome on pendentives.

Bema: The eastern extension of the naos, also called the sanctuary, where the altar was located, directly in front of the apse. It was originally separated from the main part of the naos by a marble screen.

Prothesis and Diakonikon: Located on each side of the bema were side chapels called pastophoria, with the prothesis to the north, where the Eucharist was prepared, and the diakonikon to the south, which was a vestry. By the fourteenth century, the diakonikon functioned as a private chapel.

Parecclesion: Along the south side was the parecclesion, or subsidiary chapel, which functioned as a funeral chapel for Theodore Metochites and his family. The parecclesion represents one of the finest achievements of Palaiologan architecture. Divided into two square bays, flanked by a barrel vault to the west and apse to the east, the two bays are covered by a tall, windowed dome and a lower domical vault. The fresco cycle, dedicated to the Virgin and Christ, is almost entirely preserved.

Istanbul, Kariye Camii,
Exterior view from the Southwest

Note the importance of the subsidiary spaces including the narthexes and parecclesion, arranged in an L-shaped configuration wrapping around the naos. These spaces are characterized by their small-scale and asymmetrical relationships. The history of the building is important to its appearance reflecting the relationship between old and new components as they were melded into the final form of the building. The new echoes, frames, and enhances the old.