Church of the Holy Apostles

  • The Church of the Holy Apostles (no longer extant) was located in Istanbul, Turkey, and was the second most important church in the Byzantine Empire after the Hagia Sophia.
  • It was the Mausoleum for the Eastern Roman Emperors of the Byzantine Empire from 337 CE, starting with Constantine I, until 1056 CE with Theodora, after which there was no more space.

The Building

  • The original building was commissioned and consecrated in 330 CE by Constantine I, but not completed until after 337 CE.
  • It was then completely rebuilt under Justinian I by the same architects who designed the Hagia Sophia.
  • It was finally demolished in 1462 CE by the Ottoman Turks and the site was used to build the Fatih Mosque.

The Tombs

  • The Tombs were looted for their Gold crowns and Jewels during the fourth Crusade of 1204 CE. Some of the treasures were brought back to Venice and are displayed today in Saint Mark's Basilica.
  • The Tombs are only known from a list in the Byzantine Emperor’s book of Protocol called ‘De Ceremoniis’.

Surviving Sarcophagi

  • Seven Porphyry Sarcophagi have survived. Two in the atrium of the Hagia Eirene, four outside the Archeological Museum and fragments of a fifth, possibly that of Constantine I, located in the ‘Istanbul through the ages’ Pavilion.

List of Emperors who were buried in the Mausoleum

  • 337 CE Constantine I
  • 361 CE Constantius II
  • 363 CE Julian the Apostate
  • 364 CE Jovian and his wife Charito.
  • 375 CE Valentinian I and his wife Marina Severa.
  • 395 CE Theodosius I
  • 457 CE Marcian and his wife Pulcheria.
  • 515 CE Ariadne
  • 518 CE Anastasius I
  • 565 CE Justinian I and his wife Theodora.
  • 593 CE Ino Anastasia
  • 641 CE Heraclius
  • 612 CE Eudokia
  • 668 CE Fausta
  • 711 CE Anastasia
  • c.703 Eudokia, wife of Justinian II (685-695 CE)
  • 912 CE Leo VI the Wise and his three wives.
  • 882 CE Eudokia Ingerina
  • 969 CE Nikephoros II
  • 1028 CE Constantine VIII
  • 1050 CE Zoe Porphyrogenita
  • 1056 CE Theodora
  • Two Patriarchs of Constantinople were also buried here:
    • Nikephoros I
    • Cyriacus II

 

Istanbul Archeology Museums

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