The Church of St. Theodosia and Its Significance
The Church of St. Theodosia, also known as the Church of the Holy Martyr Theodosia, was one of the most revered shrines in Byzantine Constantinople. St. Theodosia was martyred during the Iconoclast period, under Emperor Leo the Isaurian (717–741), because she defended the use of holy icons in Christian worship. For her courage, she became a beloved symbol of faith and resistance.
This church stood near the Porta Divæ Theodosiæ, or Gate of St. Theodosia, which was later identified with the modern Aya Kapou. Ancient authors such as Phrantzes and Pusculus both mention this gate and its connection to the saint Petrion in Crusader Assaults and Ottoman Siege.
The District of Dexiocrates
The gate was also known by another name—Porta Dexiocrates—after the district of Dexiocrates, where it was located. This identification is supported by comparing two ancient sources: Pachymeres and the Synaxarion. Pachymeres records that the body of St. Theodosia rested in the church dedicated to her memory, while the Synaxarion states that she was buried in the Monastery of Dexiocrates.
To reconcile these two accounts, historians conclude that the Church of St. Theodosia must have stood within the district of Dexiocrates. This explanation brings harmony between the written traditions and the geography of the area.
The earliest known mention of the church appears in the travel account of Anthony of Novgorod, a Russian pilgrim who visited Constantinople around the twelfth century. He described the church as a place of deep devotion, frequently visited by both locals and foreign pilgrims Turkey Tour Guide.
The Fall of Constantinople and the Tragedy of May 29, 1453
The festival of St. Theodosia was celebrated each year on May 29th. In a striking and tragic coincidence, this date became forever linked with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
On that fateful morning, the church was filled with worshippers, including many women and children, who had gathered to honour the saint. They could not have imagined that their prayers would be interrupted by the sound of breaking doors and the cries of soldiers. As Turkish troops stormed the city, they entered the church, capturing its congregation and carrying them away into slavery.
This terrible event left a deep mark on Byzantine memory, symbolizing the end of an empire and the beginning of a new era under Ottoman rule.
The Porta Puteae (Djubali Kapoussi)
Identification of the Gate
The next gate along the harbour walls, known today as Djubali Kapoussi, corresponds to the Porta Puteae mentioned by Pusculus and to the Porta del Pozzo described by Zorzo Dolfin. It is the only gate located between the Gate of St. Theodosia (Aya Kapou) and the Porta Platea (Oun Kapan Kapoussi), which supports this identification.
Although no Byzantine author recorded its original Greek name, foreign visitors to Constantinople used the Latin and Italian terms Puteae and Pozzo, both meaning “Well Gate.” This suggests that the local Greek name had a similar meaning, perhaps referring to a nearby well or cistern that gave the gate its title.
Historical Role and References
The Chronicle of Novgorod (Chronista Novgorodensis) gives an important clue about the gate’s position. During the Crusader assault of April 12, 1204, Venetian ships were drawn up along the harbour walls between the Monastery of Christ the Benefactor (Euergetes) on the east and Blachernæ on the west. The chronicle specifically names a place called Ispigas (τοῦ Ἰσπίγα), which is believed to correspond to the area around the Porta Puteae.
This connection places Djubali Kapoussi at a significant point in the Crusader campaign, one of the sectors where the Venetians and their allies concentrated their attack against the Byzantine defences.
Both the Porta Dexiocrates and the Porta Puteae mark locations deeply intertwined with the religious devotion and tragic history of Constantinople. The Church of St. Theodosia stood as a symbol of faith and resistance against iconoclasm, while the Porta Puteae witnessed the storming of the walls that brought the Byzantine Empire to an end.
Together, these landmarks remind us how faith, courage, and catastrophe were woven into the very stones of the city that once ruled the eastern world.