Kariye Camii - Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City - page 289

57. The Virgin Hodegitria
In panel at right of bema
Inscription as in outer narthex. The type is that of the Hodegitria,
the Guide or Teacher, the original of which was supposed to have
been painted by St. Luke from life.

THE PARECCLESION: THE FRESCOES
The superb fresco decoration of the parecclesion or side chapel to
the south of the church was the last part of Metochite's work of
redecoration to be carried out, probably in 1320-1. The great but
unknown master artist of these frescoes was probably the same as the
one who did the mosaics in the rest of the church. The decoration
of the chapel is designed to illustrate its purpose as a place of burial.
Above the level of the cornice the paintings represent the Resurrection
and the Life, the Last Judgement, Heaven and Hell, and the Mother
of God as the Bridge between Earth and Heaven. Below the cornice
is a procession of saints and martyrs, interrupted here and there by
tombs. We shall deal first with the upper series of frescoes beginning
at the east, then list the saints below cornice level, and finally say a
few words about the tombs.

I. Scenes of Resurrection

1. The Anastasis

In the semidome of the apse

This scene, called Anastasis (Resurrection) in Greek, is known
in English as the Harrowing of Hell. Christ has broken down
the gates of Hell which lie beneath his feet; Satan, bound, lies
before him. With his right hand he pulls Adam out of his tomb;
behind Adam stand St. John the Baptist, David, Solomon and
other righteous kings. With his left hand he pulls Eve out of
her tomb; standing in it is Abel and behind him another group
of the righteous. This is surely one of the great paintings of the
world.