Now a Greek chapel sits on the spot where the holy spring or ayazma of Blachernae flowed in pre-Christian times. Its waters are believed to posses miraculous powers, but having drank it I feel much the same. In 451 a great church was built over the spring by Pulcheria, wife to Emperor Marcian. A few years later the robe and mantle of the Virgin were kept here. As a result it became the most important shrine in the city. The church was destroyed in 1434 by fire.

The picture shows the iconostasis of the little church, which is officially named the ‘Church of Panagia of Blachernæ’.

In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. The nave is the main body of the church where most of the worshippers stand; the sanctuary is the area around the altar, east of the nave, which during liturgical services is only entered by priests and deacons.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: Internetsite of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople & Wikipedia.