James Wolfe FICTION WRITING Jesus Christ Parecclesion FICTION WRITING 274 ARTICLE Theotokos the Virgin and Child both the image of Christ 2 in this list and this mosaic of the Virgin originally were positioned as proskynetaria icons to flank the templon the barrier which was in front of the sanctuary though the templon no longer survives To the right of the esonarthex doors open into the side chapel or parecclesion The parecclesion was used as a mortuary chapel for family burials and memorials The second largest dome 4 5 m diameter in the church graces the centre of the roof of the parecclesion A small passageway links the parecclesion directly into the naos and off this passage can be found a small oratory and a storeroom The parecclesion is covered in frescoes that emphasize the theological message of salvation in keeping with the space s use as a funerary chapel Within the Christian worldview God raises the dead at the end of time hence the significance of the Anastasis and Last Judgement scenes painted prominently on the ceiling The image of the Anastasis is particularly renowned appearing in many art history survey books as a key examplar of late Byzantine art Anastasis literally Resurrection the Harrowing of Hell Christ who has just broken down the gates of Hell is standing in the centre and pulling Adam and Eve out of their tombs Christ is adorned in vivid white garments as well as encircled by a radiant mandorla setting him in contrast to the dark colors of the fresco s background Behind Adam stand John the Baptist David and Solomon and other righteous kings Below is the bound personification of Hades rendered as an African individual The Last Judgment or Second Coming Christ is enthroned with the Virgin and John the Baptist on either side of him This trio is also called the Deesis Virgin and Child Heavenly court of angels Two panels of Moses Along the walls of the Chora s parecclesion are arcosolia arched recesses for tombs likely intended for Theodore Metochites and his family Also at this level are depictions of soldier saints who wield swords as if protecting the tombs they accompany Name The original 4th century monastery containing the church was outside Constantinople s city walls Literally translated the church s full name was the Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country Greek h Ekkl sia tou Hagiou S t ros en t i Ch r i It is therefore sometimes incorrectly referred to as Saint Saviour However The Church of the Holy Redeemer in the Fields would be a more natural rendering of the name in English The last part of the Greek name Chora referring to its location originally outside of the walls became the shortened name of the church The name must have carried symbolic meaning as the mosaics in the narthex describe Christ as the Land of the Living h Ch ra t n z nt n and Mary the mother of Jesus as the Container of the Uncontainable h Ch ra tou Ach r tou