The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XXXI. Concerning the Great Church of Saint Sophia, and [that] of The holy Apostles.

FUrther, [the same Emperour] erected not only many other Churches at Constantinople of a gracefull composure, [in honour] to God and [his] Saints: but he also built that great and incomparable Work, [the like whereto] is not to be found any where on record, [to wit,] * 1.1 that most spacious Church of Saint Sophia, [a Stru∣cture] beautifull and emi∣nent, and which exceeds the possibilty of a description. Nevertheless, as far as I am able, I will attempt to de∣scribe this Church. † 1.2 The fabrick of the Sanctuary is a ‖ 1.3 Tholus, erected upon four Arches, raised to so vast an heighth, that 'tis very difficult for those who look steadfastly from below, to see the Top of the * 1.4 Hemisphaere: but such as stand above, though they be persons very bold and daring, will in no wise attempt to look down, and cast their eyes downwards to the Pavement. The Ar∣ches are raised a 1.5 empty from the Pavement to the very Covering [or, Top] of the Roof.

On the right hand and on the left, b 1.6 opposite to the [Arches] are placed Pillars, framed of Thessalick Stone: and they bear up c 1.7 Hype∣r••a, which being underpropt by other such like Columns, give a liberty to those that are de∣sirous of looking down from on high upon the Mysteries. To which place also the Em∣press comes on Holidays when She is present at the Sacred performance of the Mysteries. But the [Columns placed] at the East and West, d 1.8 are so left, that there should be nothing which might hinder the admiration of so vast a greatness. The Porticus's of the forementioned Hyper••a, finish so great a Work with Pillars and small Arches. Further, that the Miracle of this Structure may be plainer and more manifest, I have resolved to insert here the [number of] Feet, both of its Length, Breadth, and Heighth; as likewise the empty spaces, and heighth also of the Arches. The measure therefore is this. The length from that † 1.9 Door opposite to the Sacred e 1.10 Concha, where the unbloudy Sa∣crifice is offered, unto the [Concha] it self, is an Hundred and ninty Feet: the breadth from North to South, One hundred and fifteen Feet: the * 1.11 heighth from the Center of the He∣misphaere to the Pavement, is an Hun∣dred and eighty Feet. The breadth of each of the Arches is f 1.12 ...... Feet. The length from East to West [contains] Two hundred and sixty Feet. g 1.13 The breadth of their Light is Se∣venty five Feet. There are besides at the West two other Porticus's very splendid, and open Courts on all sides of an admirable Beauty and Gracefullness. The same Justinian built the Church of The Divine Apostles, which will not readily give precedency to any other Temple. In which Church the Emperours h 1.14 and the Pre∣lates are customarily interred. But, concerning these and such things as these, let thus much every way [suffice] to have been said.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that most spatious Temple of the Church.
• † 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Temple of the Sanctuaries.
• ‖ 1.3

  See Evagrius, Book 2. Chap. 3. note (b.)
• * 1.4

  Or, Arch.
• a 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Some one will ••er•• haps ask, what this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, emp•••••• m〈…〉〈…〉▪ For Eva∣grius says that the Arches or Vaults a∣rose empty from the Pavement to the top. In this place there∣fore we are to under∣stand, that [the Ar∣ches] were open, up∣held by no Columns. Procopius in his first Book De Aedificiis, attests this concerning two of the Arches only: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but two of the Arches were raised up into the empty Air, at the rising and at the setting Sun. Vales.
• b 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Translatours have rendred this place very badly. Musculus turns it thus: In dextro Latere ad Sinistram or∣dinatae sunt in illis Columnae; In the right side on the left hand Columns are placed in them. Christophorson interprets it in this manner: In dextro latere, sunt homini ingredienti ad Laevam Columnae ordine locatae &c; In the right side, on the left hand to a man going in, Pillars are placed in order, &c. They were led into a mistake by the omission of one Conjunction, [to wit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and, which is wanting in Robert Ste∣phens's Edition;] which we have put in from the Florentine M. S. in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c; On the right hand and on the left, &c. It remaines now that we explain what those words mean which follow next, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Evagrius himself therefore shall be his own Interpreter; who (in his first Book, chap. 14,) describing the sacred Church of Symeones the Stylite, says it consisted of four Portico's. [But, by Valesius's favour, Evagrius's words in that Chapter are these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, beautified with Portico's of [or, at the] four sides.] And then he adds these words: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. That is, opposite to [or, near to] those Portico's are placed Pillars; wherefore at this place, instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I would more willingly read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; to wit, by understanding the term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Arches. Vales.
• c 1.7

  These Hyper••a [Galleries, or, Upper Rooms] were designed for the women, that being therein placed apart by themselves, they might behold the solemn performances of the Divine Service, as Paulus Silentiarius relates in his description of Saint Sophia; which Authour says, that those upper rooms or Galleries, were upheld by six Columns of Thessalick Marble; whereas nevertheless, there were only two Columns below, which upheld the Galleries, pag. 110. Paulus terms them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the womens Hyper••ia; in like manner as our Evagrius does here, and also Procopius in his first Book; where he describes this Church of Saint Sophia: although Procopius rather terms them Porticus's. Vales.
• d 1.8

  By these words Evagrius sets forth the difference which was be∣tween the Columns of the Church of Saint Sophia. For he says, that the Columns which were at the right and left side of the Church, that is, at the North and South, had Galleries or Chambers laid upon them, out of which the Faithfull might behold the Sacred Mysteries which were celebrated at the Altar. But the Columns which were placed at the East and West, upheld no Gallerie; but were left naked. It was my sentiment that these things were to be more largely explained, for this reason; because I perceived Translatours, especially Christophor∣son, saw nothing here. Vales.
• † 1.9

  Or, gate.
• e 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He means, I suppose, the most Easternly part of the Church; which, because the whole Structure was a Tholus, must be almost Semi-circular, or, made in the form of a Shell.
• * 1.11

  Or, depth.
• f 1.12

  In Robert Stephens's Edition, as likewise in this of Valesius's, there is an imperfection in the Greek Text here. Curterius, Grynaeus, Chri∣stophorson, and D^r Hanmer, in their Versions have inserted this num∣ber, Sixty six; from what authority I know not. Musculus and Vale∣sius leave a Blank here in their Versions; the latter of whom says no∣thing concerning this imperfection, in his Notes.
• g 1.13

  See, if you please, the descri∣ption of Saint So∣phia's Church, which Franciscus Combesisas, (a person that de∣serves well of Lear∣ning) has lately published, page 254. Paulus Silentiarius describes these Windows, in his Ecphrasis, (which the most Learned person Ca∣rolus de Fraxino hath newly published;) and Procopius, in his first Book De Aedificiis. Vales.
• h 1.14

  Sozomen says the same in the close of his second Book of Ecclesia∣stick History. But (which is to be taken notice of,) neither of them (neither Evagrius nor Sozomen,) do affirm it was peculiar to the Constantinopolitane Bishops, that they, in like manner as were the Em∣perours, should be buried in the Church of the Apostles; but they speak in generall concerning the Bishops. Indeed Nicephorus (book 8. chapter the last,) does expressly attest, that not only the Constantino∣politane, but other Bishops also, who for sanctity of life had excelled others, were interred there. For it often hapned, that Bishops, either sent for by the Emperours, or making a journey to the Imperial City on account of Ecclesiastick affairs, ended their lives there. Thus in the times of Anastasius, Alcissus and Gajanus died at Byzantium, and by Marcellinus in his Chronicon are recorded to have been buried in one Sepulcher. Vales.