NOTRE-DAME-DES-BLACHERNES CHURCH

In good condition and well-maintained, it is one of the most prestigious sites in the historic city, but paradoxically it remains little-known on classic itineraries. The spring, considered sacred since the dawn of time, is at the origin of the church's construction. In fact, the church was built much later, in the^5th century, on the initiative of the emperor Marcian (450-457) and his wife Pulcheria, sister of the previous emperor, the famous Theodosius II (413-450). Leo V (457-474) completed the work and made a number of modifications. A statue of the Virgin Mary was installed over the spring, causing water to flow from her hands, and a paraclement (Haghia Soros) was built to house her so-called tunic, brought back from the Holy Land (^5th century) along with other items also considered sacred. Given its proximity to the city walls, it's not hard to imagine that spirits have repeatedly called upon the supernatural powers of the relics and the statue of the Virgin Mary. It was rebuilt after a fire in the ^11th century, at the same time as the construction of the Blachernes palace, of which it became a dependency. It's true that no Byzantine monument was fortunate enough to enjoy a peaceful existence: it succumbed to fire again in the ^15th century, some twenty years before the fall of the city, and it wasn't until the ^19th century that a chapel was built there. Sadly, no remnants of the past remain, but the site continues to attract devotees of all faiths (Muslims recognize the Virgin Mary as the mother of the prophet Jesus). Christianity has always attributed supernatural powers to relics. Near the Grand Palace (Sultanahmet), the Lighthouse Chapel in one of the two ports on the Sea of Marmara, for example, contained two fragments of the True Cross. Another highly symbolic piece, originating from the holy city of Urfa (Edessa), was the shroud (Sydoine) in which Jesus was said to have been wrapped. The Byzantines called it the Mandylion, and the relic had been on display in this church every Friday since the ^10th century. Already weakened and a far cry from its legendary magnificence, Byzantium was dealt a heavy blow during the Fourth Crusade: much of its remaining wealth was shipped off as booty to various cities in the West. It was no doubt at this point that the Sydoine disappeared to an unknown destination.