Kariye Camii - Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City - page 280

III. Cycle of the Life of the Blessed Virgin

In the first three bays of the inner narthex

The Cycle of the Life of the Virgin is based mainly on
the Apocryphal Gospel of St. James, better known as the
Protoevangelium , which is at least as old as the second century,
and gives an account of her birth and life from the rejection
of the oferings of Joachim, her father, to the birth of Jesus.
It was very popular in the Middle Ages and is the source of
many cycles of pictures both in the East and the West; compare
Giotto's cycle in the Arena Chapel at Padua, painted at about
the same date as these, and representing many of the same
scenes. Here there were 20 scenes, of which 19 are completely
or partially preserved.

9. Joachim's Oferings Rejected

First bay, NW pendentive of dome

Zacharias the High Priest before the altar raises his hands in a
gesture of refusal. (The rest of the scene in the NE pendentive
is lost: it must have shown Joachim and his wife Anne bearing
oferings. Their oferings were rejected because they had borne
no children.)

10. Fragmentary Scene

In lunette of north wall

Probably Joachim and Anne returning home: only a maid
looking out of a doorway is preserved.

11. Joachim in the Wilderness

In SE pendentive

Ashamed at the rejection of his oferings, Joachim goes into the
wilderness to pray for ofspring.

12. The Annunciation to St. Anne

In lunette of east wall