Kariye Camii - Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City - page 294

“And it came to pass when Solomon was finished building the
house of the Lord, then he assembled all the elders of Israel
in Sion, to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the Lord out of
the City of David, that is Sion, and the priests took up the
Ark of the Covenant as a prefiguration of the testimony.” (I
Kings 8:1-4). Second scene, on soffit of arch, inscription lost
but probably continuation of verse 4: “and the holy vessels that
were in the tabernacle of testimony.” Third scene, on east half
of south lunette, inscribed: “and the king and all Israel were
assembled before the Ark.” (v 5). Fourth scene, on west half of
south lunette, inscribed: “And the priests bring in the Ark of
the Covenant, into the oracle of the house, even into the holy
of holies, under the wings of the cherubim.” (I Kings 8:6)

16. Isaiah and the Angel

In south soffit of western arch

The inviolable city as a prefiguration of the Virgin. The
inscription on Isaiah's scroll is almost illegible but probably
reads: “Thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: 'He
shall not come into this city'.” (Isaiah 37:33)

17. Aaron and his Sons before the Altar

In north soffit of western arch

he altar as a prefiguration of the Virgin. Inscription, practically
illegible, is perhaps: “They draw nigh to the altar and ofer their
sin-oferings and their whole burnt oferings.” (Leviticus 9:7)

18. The Souls of the Righteous in the Hand of God

In crown of western arch

Almost entirely lost, but one can make out part of the Hand of
God holding the souls of the righteous, represented as infants
in swaddling-bands.