Did you hear about the jewel-bedecked woman? She was walking along the walls of Constantinople. Now we stand before the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae. It is a site of immense historical and spiritual importance in Istanbul.
This church has a story that stretches back to the heart of the Byzantine Empire. Empress Aelia Pulcheria initiated its construction in 450 near a holy spring. Her husband Emperor Marcian completed it after her death.
Emperor Leo I further enriched the complex. He added a parekklesion called Ayia Soros to house sacred relics. These included the Virgin’s holy mantle and robe brought from Palestine. He also built the Ayion Lousma, enclosing the sacred spring.
The Church of St. Mary of Blachernae’s importance grew. Emperors began to favor the surrounding area. They initiated the construction of the Palace of Blachernae.
The church housed the Vlachernitissa. It was a famous icon of the Virgin Mary. The Byzantines believed this icon had immense power during war or disaster. In 626 Constantinople was under siege by the Avars and Persians. Emperor Heraclius was away. His son Constantine and Patriarch Sergius carried the icon along the city walls. The Avar army was soon destroyed. The Khan of the Avars claimed he saw a jewel-bedecked woman. She was walking along the walls. This highlights the importance of the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae.
Victories against the Arabs and the Rus were also attributed to the Virgin’s protection. The Veil of the Virgin was plunged into the sea. This act was to invoke God’s protection.
The Church of St. Mary played a role in Byzantine religious disputes. The Council of Hieria condemned the cult of images within its walls. Emperor Constantine V ordered the figurative mosaics destroyed. They were replaced with natural scenes. The Blachernitissa icon was hidden.
The Blachernitissa was rediscovered during restoration in the 11th century. It once again became venerated. A fire completely destroyed the Church of St. Mary in 1070. Romanos IV Diogenes and Michael VII Doukas rebuilt it.
Anna Komnene described the “habitual miracle” of the Vlachernitissa icon. The veil covering the icon would rise slowly on Fridays. It revealed the Virgin’s face. It would fall again twenty-four hours later. This miracle stopped after the Latin conquest.
Noble children accidentally started a fire in 1434. It destroyed the church and the surrounding area. The area was neglected during the Ottoman period. In 1867 the Orthodox Furriers Guild built a new small church around the holy spring.
The complex once comprised the Church of Saint Mary. There was also the Chapel of the reliquary and the Sacred Bath. The church was a large basilica. Justinian added a dome. The walls were covered in marble panels.
The parekklision of the Ayia Soros held the Virgin’s dress and robe. The sacred bath had a pool. A marble statue of the Virgin poured water into it.
The small church today encloses the holy spring. Pilgrims still visit it for its healing powers. They toss coins into the pool. The Akathist Hymn is sung here every Friday morning. It was composed during the Siege of 626. The Church of St. Mary of Blachernae stands as a testament to faith. It also represents resilience and the enduring power of belief.