The church dedicated to the three martyr brothers, SS. Manual, Sabel, and Ishmael, was likely located on the Fifth Hill. This is because it stood near the point where the wall began to descend towards the Golden Horn. This matches the description in the Synaxaria, which states that the church was beside the land wall of Constantine, situated on steep ground, and close to the Church of St. Elias at the Petrion. The location of the church aligns with these details, confirming that it must have been on the Fifth Hill.
The District of Harmatius
The district of Harmatius is named after a notable figure during the reign of Emperor Zeno. The district can be found in the plain bordered by the Fifth, Fourth, and Third Hills, as well as the Golden Horn. This plain, known in later years as the Plateia (or IlXareia), was the area where the fortifications of Constantine’s wall would have descended from the Fifth Hill. The walls then proceeded on their northeastern course toward the Golden Horn Private Sofia Tour.
The Notitia, a historical document, indicates that the northern end of the city’s walls extended to this point. It is likely that in Constantine’s time, the bay at this location extended further into the plain than it does today.
Church of St. Antony
A church dedicated to St. Antony was located in this part of the city. The Archbishop of Novgorod visited Constantinople at the end of the eleventh century and documented his visit to the church of St. Antony. Before visiting St. Antony’s church, he paid his respects at several other notable churches in the city, including the Church of St. Theodosia, the Church of St. Isaiah, and the Church of St. Laurentius. These churches were all located in the same plain.
The Church of St. Theodosia is believed to have been located at what is now the Mosque Gul Djami, near Aya Kapou. The Church of St. Isaiah is thought to correspond to the Mosque of Sheik Mourad, and the Church of St. Laurentius is believed to be represented by the Mosque of Pour Kouyou, further to the south.
The Location of St. Antony’s Church
The Archbishop mentions that the Church of St. Antony was on higher ground than the Church of St. Laurentius. It was situated slightly up the slope of the Fourth Hill. This suggests that the church of St. Antony of Harmatius was located at a slightly elevated spot, which is consistent with the historical description of the church’s location. Therefore, it is highly probable that this church occupied the higher ground just above the Fourth Hill.
In summary, the churches and landmarks mentioned in the text correspond to specific locations within Constantinople, primarily around the Fifth, Fourth, and Third Hills, and the Golden Horn. The Church of SS. Manual, Sabel, and Ishmael was located on the Fifth Hill, near the Constantinian wall. The district of Harmatius is situated in the plain bordered by the Golden Horn, while the Church of St. Antony is thought to have been located on the higher ground near the Fourth Hill.