Some mosaics not to be missed in the Khora Monastery
20/06/2023
2. Hodegetria (The Guide) depicts the Theotokos (Mother of God) holding the Child Jesus in her arms, symbolically pointing to him as the salvation of humanity. It represents an iconic representation of Mary as the guide.
3. Koimesis, also known as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, portrays her last sleep before ascending to heaven. Jesus holds an infant symbolizing the soul of Mary. The Apostles, Gospel writers, and early bishops are depicted standing around Mary.
4. Theodoros Metochites, the patron who commissioned the church, is depicted in a mosaic presenting a model of the church to Jesus, who is seated on a throne. In this mosaic, Jesus blesses Metochites, indicating that He will protect them.
10. The name of Mary's mother is Anna, and her father's name is Joachim. They are a wealthy couple who have been unable to have children for a long time. The rejection of Joachim's offerings is depicted with the high priest Zechariah raising his hands to indicate he did not accept them. Joachim's offerings are rejected due to their lack of children.
13. The Meeting of Joachim and Anna depicts the couple embracing each other joyfully. They are delighted about the child that will be mentioned to them.
14. The Birth of Mary shows Anna lying in bed. Three companions are presenting gifts, a servant is fanning, and two other servants are preparing the cradle and bathing the baby. The midwife is holding Mary. Joachim, the only male figure in the picture, is curious about what is happening inside but hesitates to enter.
15. The First Seven Steps of Mary portrays Mary taking her first seven steps at six months old. She reaches her mother's lap by taking seven steps.
20. The Angel Giving Bread to Mary depicts a miraculous event where an angel provides Mary with bread during her stay in the temple. While residing in the temple, Mary is miraculously attended to by an angel. During her time in the temple, she vows to remain unmarried and dedicate herself to the service of God.
23. Mary is entrusted to Joseph, the owner of the blooming staff. Zechariah, gently caressing Mary with one hand and implying that she is under their protection, returns the team to Joseph, and Mary is handed over to Joseph.
25. The Angel of God appears to Mary in a well; the angel reveals that she will miraculously give birth to a child, who will be the Son of God, Jesus. The Annunciation of Mary is reciprocal to the Annunciation of Anna.
26. The Departure of Joseph from Mary portrays Joseph leaving Mary's side. Due to a carpentry job he took, he had to be away from home for six months, carrying his carpentry tools on his back with his son in a basket. Mary, depicted as a small girl, bows her head in farewell and appears quite sorrowful. When Joseph returns, he will find Mary to be pregnant.
27. Joseph's Dream depicts the angel of God appearing to Joseph in a dream and assuring him not to hesitate in accepting Mary as his wife. The entity conceived in Mary is the Holy Spirit.
28. The Journey to Bethlehem portrays the decree issued by Augustus, stating that everyone must be registered in their city. Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
30. The Birth of Jesus depicts Mary giving birth to the baby in a cave-manger in Bethlehem. Outside, an angel appears to shepherds, announcing the birth of the Son of God. The shepherds go to the manger and find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a feeding trough. Through their breath, the animals next to the cradle provide warmth to the baby and sense his divinity.
33. When Herod could not locate the child (The one born as the king of the Jews.), he ordered the killing all male children aged two and under in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas.
36. The Escape of Elizabeth with her baby, John the Baptist, portrays Elizabeth taking refuge with her baby in a cave that opens up to shelter them from the massacre.
39. As John the Baptist bears witness to Jesus, he says, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes the one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John identifies Jesus as the one he refers to, and he baptizes Jesus. Baptism signifies spiritual cleansing and repentance, symbolizing turning away from sin.
41. At the Wedding at Cana, Jesus performs the miracle of turning water into wine. Jesus instructs the servants to fill six stone jars with water when the wine runs out at the wedding feast. The water is miraculously transformed into the finest wine, declared the best wine served at the dinner. The wine represents the blood of Jesus, symbolizing his sacrifice.
42-43. Feeding the 5000 with their families, a large crowd gathers around Jesus, lacking food. They have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, and breaks it. The food miraculously multiplies, and 5000 people and their families are fed it. The remaining fragments are collected in twelve baskets. The bread represents the body of Jesus. The scenes of wine and bread also allude to the sacrament of consecrated wine and bread in the Khora Monastery, where the Eucharist is celebrated.
44.B. Upon leaving the church, the last mosaic visible on the exterior doorway belongs to Mary. Mary has shown the miracle of being the "Khora" of Jesus. The Son of God, Jesus, who cannot be contained anywhere, was in his mother's womb. Thus, Jesus and Mary are "Khora" in their own right.
52. The Resurrection (Anastasis). Jesus, who has shattered the gates of Hell, stands in the center, pulling Adam and Eve out of their tombs. Behind Adam, there are John the Baptist, David, and Solomon. The others are righteous kings. In the lower row, six saints are depicted (from left to right: an unidentified figure, Saint Athanasius, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil, Saint Gregory, and Saint Cyril of Alexandria).
53. The Second Coming of Jesus, the Day of Judgment: Heaven and Hell. Jesus is seated on a throne with the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. (This trio is also referred to as Deesis.) The 12 apostles of Jesus are on either side. Above, an angel has turned the wheel of time, containing the moon and the sun, and eternity has begun. Jesus will judge each individual and decide whether they will go to heaven or hell. The Virgin Mary and John the Baptist intercede with Jesus, asking for forgiveness for humanity. Metochites are depicted at the bottom of the "Day of Judgment" scene—the scales in the painting tip in favor of Metochites, indicating that he will go to heaven.
30. The Birth of Jesus depicts Mary giving birth to the baby in a cave-manger in Bethlehem. Outside, an angel appears to shepherds, announcing the birth of the Son of God. The shepherds go to the manger and find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a feeding trough. Through their breath, the animals next to the cradle provide warmth to the baby and sense his divinity.
33. When Herod could not locate the child (The one born as the king of the Jews.), he ordered the killing all male children aged two and under in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas.
36. The Escape of Elizabeth with her baby, John the Baptist, portrays Elizabeth taking refuge with her baby in a cave that opens up to shelter them from the massacre.
39. As John the Baptist bears witness to Jesus, he says, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes the one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John identifies Jesus as the one he refers to, and he baptizes Jesus. Baptism signifies spiritual cleansing and repentance, symbolizing turning away from sin.
41. At the Wedding at Cana, Jesus performs the miracle of turning water into wine. Jesus instructs the servants to fill six stone jars with water when the wine runs out at the wedding feast. The water is miraculously transformed into the finest wine, declared the best wine served at the dinner. The wine represents the blood of Jesus, symbolizing his sacrifice.
42-43. Feeding the 5000 with their families, a large crowd gathers around Jesus, lacking food. They have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, and breaks it. The food miraculously multiplies, and 5000 people and their families are fed it. The remaining fragments are collected in twelve baskets. The bread represents the body of Jesus. The scenes of wine and bread also allude to the sacrament of consecrated wine and bread in the Khora Monastery, where the Eucharist is celebrated.
44.B. Upon leaving the church, the last mosaic visible on the exterior doorway belongs to Mary. Mary has shown the miracle of being the "Khora" of Jesus. The Son of God, Jesus, who cannot be contained anywhere, was in his mother's womb. Thus, Jesus and Mary are "Khora" in their own right.
52. The Resurrection (Anastasis). Jesus, who has shattered the gates of Hell, stands in the center, pulling Adam and Eve out of their tombs. Behind Adam, there are John the Baptist, David, and Solomon. The others are righteous kings. In the lower row, six saints are depicted (from left to right: an unidentified figure, Saint Athanasius, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil, Saint Gregory, and Saint Cyril of Alexandria).
53. The Second Coming of Jesus, the Day of Judgment: Heaven and Hell. Jesus is seated on a throne with the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. (This trio is also referred to as Deesis.) The 12 apostles of Jesus are on either side. Above, an angel has turned the wheel of time, containing the moon and the sun, and eternity has begun. Jesus will judge each individual and decide whether they will go to heaven or hell. The Virgin Mary and John the Baptist intercede with Jesus, asking for forgiveness for humanity. Metochites are depicted at the bottom of the "Day of Judgment" scene—the scales in the painting tip in favor of Metochites, indicating that he will go to heaven.
