Hagia Eirene in Constantinople

Hagia Eirene in Constantinople is the cathedral of the Byzantine capital, the church of Constantinople bishop, in the unique complex of the 'Megale Ekklesia', including the church of the Emperor dedicated to Hagia Sophia. The paper presents literary and historical sources about Hagia Eirene, the very first chuch of the City, and focusing on its epigraphic equipment; both the imperial monograms carved in the nave capitals (showing the names of Justinian and Theodora), re-used after the earthquakes and the fires that partially destroyed the building before the today visible church, datable to 8th century, in Iconoclastic period, witnessed forst of all by the wonderful aniconic mosaic of the Cross in the apse. The inscriptions in the apse, with Biblical direct quotations (from Psalter and prophet Amos) celebrate the reconstruction of the church by a champion of Iconoclastic movement, the emperor Constantinus V (741-775).