imon the son of
Joseph walks ahead, carrying a bundle. In the background,
meeting of Mary and Elizabeth.

2. In the eastern lunette.--The registration of Joseph and
Mary at Bethlehem before Cyrenius. (Said to be unique in the
East.[542])

On the arch over the eastern lunette.--Busts (in medallions)
of SS. Mardarius, Auxentius (only one letter of the name
remains), SS. Eustratius, Orestes.

3. On the western lunette.--The Holy Family on the way to
the first passover of Jesus at Jerusalem.

On the arch over the western lunette.--The busts (in
medallions) of SS. Anempodistus, Elpidephorus, Akindynus,
Aphthonius, Pegasius.

4. In the vault.--The scene has disappeared. Possibly it
represented Jesus among the doctors in the temple.

5. On the soffit of the transverse arch, between the first
and second bays.--To the east, S. Andronicus; to the west,
S. Tarachus.

_Second Bay_

6. In the eastern lunette.--The birth of Jesus. In the background, to
left, the angel appearing to the shepherds; to right, the magi
beholding the star shining over the manger in which lies the Holy
Child, while an ox and an ass feed in it. In the centre, Mary on a
couch. In the foreground, to left, two women bathing the Holy Child;
to the right, Joseph seated on the ground and gazing at the Holy
Child.

On the arch above the eastern lunette.--The busts (in medallions)
of SS. Philemon, Leukius, Kallinikus, Thyrsus, Apollonius.

7. In the western lunette.--Return of the Holy Family from
Egypt to Nazareth.

In the arch above the western lunette.--The busts (in medallions)
of SS. Engraphus (?), Menas, Hermogenes, Laurus, Florus,
Menas, Victor, Vikentius.

8. In the vault.--The baptism of Jesus; the scenes in the
temptation of Jesus.

9. On the second transverse arch.--To the east, S. George;
to the west, S. Demetrius.

_The Third or Central Bay_

10. In the eastern lunette, over the door leading to the
inner narthex.--Christ in the act of benediction.

11. In the western lunette.--The Theotokos, in the attitude
of prayer, with the Holy Child, in a nimbus, on her breast;
the legend

[Greek: MR THY
HE CHORA TOU ACHORETOU]
(the country of the Infinite); on the right and left, an angel.

12. In the vault.--In the north-eastern corner, the miracle of water
turned into wine. The date 1303, in Arabic numerals, is on this
mosaic. In the south-eastern corner, the miracle of the loaves.

These mosaics, placed on e