Founded by Constantine I as his mausoleum-church, the Church of the Holy Apostles stood in Constantinople as the traditional burial place of the Byzantine emperors, housing the remains of figures including Constantius II and Heraclius alongside Constantine himself. Justinian rebuilt the original structure, and Basil I later reconstructed it again in marble, mosaic, and gold; it served as the architectural model for St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, demonstrating its lasting influence on Western sacred architecture. Nothing of Constantine's tomb survives, and the church itself has since vanished entirely.
What each episode says
Episode 4 (2 mentions)
Constantine's mausoleum-church in Constantinople, where he placed twelve apostolic sarcophagi and his own golden coffin at the center — symbolically presenting himself as the thirteenth apostle and symbol of the Savior. The original building was demolished and rebuilt by Justinian, and nothing remains of Constantine's tomb.
“He had 12 sarcophagi placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles and at his own coffin”
“And though it stood for another 200 years, the Church of the Holy Apostles was completely”
Episode 5 (2 mentions)
The church in Constantinople where Constantius II was laid to rest. Julian followed the coffin through the streets, weeping, before accepting the imperial title.
“the streets to the Church of the Holy Apostles, weeping as the body of his father's murderer”
“church again.”
Episode 10 (3 mentions)
The church in Constantinople where Heraclius was buried next to Constantine the Great. Brownworth calls the pairing fitting, as both were epoch-defining emperors who saved the empire at its most critical moments.
“of patriotism, pledged the entire wealth of the church and turned over an immense quantity”
“He was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, next to Constantine the Great, which was,”
Episode 12 (6 mentions)
The traditional burial place of the Byzantine emperors, founded by Constantine and then rebuilt by Justinian. Basil I completely rebuilt it again, covering it in mosaic, marble, and gold.
“Justinian's great church, the Hagia Sophia.”
“He next turned to the Church of the Holy Apostles,”
“but most referred to it simply as the new church, or Nia.”
Episode 17 (5 mentions)
Described by Brownworth as a 'vanished wonder' of Constantinople that served as the architectural model for St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, exemplifying how Byzantine monuments shaped Western sacred architecture even in their absence.
“But even through the long winter of oppression by the Turks or communists the Byzantine spirit survived in the Orthodox Church”
“Orthodoxy was pressed into service by the forces of nationalism and though each state has their local version of the church”
“Through it all they wrestled with the central question of the relationship between faith and reason church and state or as Tertullian”
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