Domus Aurea (Antioch)

Domus Aurea ( in German " Golden House " ) or the Great Church at Antioch, the cathedral was in the preaching of the Patriarch of Antioch. She was one of the churches that were started during the reign of Constantine the Great. It is believed that she was on an island, on which there was a Hellenistic palace in the Seleucid period Antioch. The church became a dispute between the Christians and Julian the Apostate, who had it close in response to the burning of an antique Apollo Temple in nearby Daphne. Between 526 and 587, the church was ravaged by a series of earthquakes, fires and Persian attacks and eventually not rebuilt after a further earthquake in 588 again.

Edification

The construction of the church began in 327 during the reign of Constantine the Great, and was completed under Constantius II. The church was consecrated on January 6, 341 in the presence of Constans and Constantius II as well as a gathering of ninety-seven bishops. It was built on an island between the two major arms of the Orontes, on which there was also the Imperial Palace. It has not yet been able to determine the exact position of the Church.

The only known (possible) representation of the Domus Aurea is the Megalopsychia Hunt mosaic (also called " Yakto Mosaic " ) from the second half of the 5th century, found in an ancient suburb of Antioch, Daphne ( Yakto ). A section on the edge of the mosaic of hunting scene shows buildings from Antioch, including one that is interpreted as the Imperial Palace, and the Domus Aurea. Although on the mosaic part of an octagonal building is to see it remains unclear whether this is the Great Church, and whether the image with different buildings positioning at river island zulässt.In absence of clear pictorial representations must rely on literary descriptions of the building. Eusebius, in his life of Constantine the Domus Aurea as of octagonal floor plan and many surrounding chambers. The dome-shaped roof, consisting of wood was gilded by great height and inside. The floor was made ​​of polished marble and each part of the building was richly clad in brass, gold and precious stones. It has been suggested that the Church is similar in its basic plan of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, which was built 540.

Julian the Apostate

Julian pulled a 362 in Antioch, shortly after he had become after the death of Constantius II sole ruler of the eastern part of the Roman Empire. He was the last non- Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. Julian chose Antioch as his base of operations to be able to partially coordinate his planned campaign against the Persians and partly by the Roman Empire in the east to promote the revival of Hellenism. He had the body of the saint Babylas from the martyrdom near the temple of Apollo in Daphne remove because he suspected the body had silenced the oracle of Apollo. When the Temple was burned down shortly after Julian was angry and suspected the Christians. He started off the Great Church.

Earthquake and fire

The earthquake in May 526 damaged the Great Church difficult, but she remained stehen.Doch a fire that burned for seven days after the earthquake inside the church, they brought to collapse. The church was of Ephraim, the comes Orientis, rebuilt, which contributed decisively to his appointment as Patriarch of Antioch in the year 528. On November 29, 528 another earthquake hit the city and the Great church was destroyed again. Again, it was restored by Ephraim and 537/538 ordained to be destroyed a third time just to 540 AD by a fire as Antioch was infected by attacking Persians under Chosroes I. One last time it was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I, but was damaged by earthquake 551, 557 and 577, which led to a shift towards the north of the dome.

Destruction

The most recent destruction of the church was (or possibly 587 ) was again struck as Antioch by an earthquake on 31 October 588. It is reported that, although the church itself was destroyed, the dome came in an upright position on the ruins to standing. After this earthquake apparently no attempt was made to rebuild the church. The area around the cathedral seems at this time not to have been inhabited since Antioch had forfeited its role as capital in the Eastern Roman Empire and the river island was no longer surrounded by the ramparts.