The Soulou Monastery, originally founded by Romanus Argyrus, was one of the most important monastic establishments in Constantinople. The monastery’s church survived the Turkish conquest and remained under Greek control until 1643, when Sultan Ibrahim handed it over to the Armenian community. Since then, the church has been destroyed by fire twice. Today, it has been rebuilt and is known as St. George Church. The church is often called Soulou Monastir (the Water Monastery) because it is located next to an ancient cistern. It stands in the Psamathia district, at the southern slope of the Seventh Hill.
The Xerolophos and the Forum of Arcadius
The Xerolophos was the name of the Seventh Hill in general, but it was sometimes used to refer specifically to the Forum of Arcadius (which is located in Avret Bazaar). The forum was located at the summit of the Seventh Hill.
Location of the Exokionion
Based on this information, the Exokionion must have been situated between the Sigma and the Forum of Arcadius, occupying the upper western slope of the Seventh Hill Sofia Guided Tours.
Additional Evidence for the Location of the Exokionion
There are a few more pieces of evidence that support this conclusion. First, the Church of St. Mokius, which was used by the Arians for their religious services in the Exokionion, stood on the Seventh Hill. The church was located on the road that connected the Sigma to the Forum of Arcadius. Additionally, the church was close to a large ancient cistern known as the Tchoukour Bostan, which was located to the north-west of the Forum.
In summary, the Exokionion was a district on the Seventh Hill, between the Sigma and the Forum of Arcadius. It was a significant area in the early history of Constantinople, particularly in connection with the Arians and their religious services. The church of St. Mokius and the nearby cistern provide further evidence for the district’s location.
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