Stoudios Monastery

The Stoudios monastery was established in the early 5th century, and has been occupied for much of its existence since then. The church that remains is the oldest in Istanbul. This entry largely deals with the middle period of its history: from Sabas' and then Theodore's appointment as abbot in Byzantium's Iconoclastic period during the late 8th century; through to the Ottoman seizure of the city in 1453. It was occupied by different groups before and after who were no less interesting, but are less well documented. This was one of the most important and largest monasteries in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople from Theodore's appointment through to the 13th century Latin crusade. It was a crucial institution in its own right within the Christian Orthodox faith. Theodore of Stoudios was made the hegemonous or superior abbot over the akoimetoi monastery in the late 790s by Empress Eirene and the imperial court. Theodore's typikon, rule of monastic life, stressed the value and virtue in labour, literacy, and charitable activity. This template would be reused by some Greek monasteries and the bulk of Russian Orthodox monasteries up to today. The monastery enjoyed financial patronage, and at times imperial favour. The Stoudites would remain an independent voice in ecumenical voice in ecumenical and imperial politics. They worked towards self sufficiency across their wide estates and related monasteries outside the city, while the Constantinoplian estates were positioned along the triumphal or parade route for emperors returning to the city and their palaces further east along the peninsula. The monastery housed relics which drew visitors and pilgrims, notably of St John the Baptist, as well as leaving a lasting impression in Medieval Greek scribal traditions. What is visible today are the exterior walls and some of the floor mosaics of only the main church or kathlokion; and to some extent the cistern beneath. It is open to the elements, unoccupied, and unpreserved. The rest of the site is assumed from textual sources.