English: On the picture: The ‘Theotokos Blachernitissa’ icon and the 19th century reconstruction of the ‘Hagion Lousma’ (sacred bath).
The first church at the site of the sacred spring was commissioned by the Augusta Pulcheria between 450-453 (the year of her death) and her husband, the Emperor Marcian (450-457). The church was completed and embellished further by the Emperor Leo I (457-474), who added the Hagiasma (fountain of holy water) and the Hagion Lousma (sacred bath). Leo I also built the parecclesion of the Hagia Soros to house the holy mantle and robe of the Virgin that had been brought from Palestine to Constantinople in 473. It was then that the church was endowed with large estates.
Sources: Internetsite of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
On a private site my pictures were often commented by a man who once won a television quiz on Belgian television, specialist subject Turkey. His comments are well-researched, he has a huge archive and speaks Turkish. Hence if sometimes use his comments.
Licensing
I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license:
to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.