ABSTRACT
The emperor Justinian was an avid builder of churches. To this day his name immediately evokes at least two world-renowned edifices which symbolise the piety and power of the imperial builder – Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and San Vitale in Ravenna. Justinian’s wife, the empress Theodora, provided the impetus for the church. This contribution to the scholarly discussion on Sts Sergius and Bacchus proceeds, firstly, by focusing on Justinian’s church building during the years in which he resided at the Hormisdas palace, then by demonstrating that the church of Sts Sergius and Bacchus cannot have been established at any stage for the refugee Monophysite monks in the palace. Next, the chapter moves to propose a construction date for the church commencing well before Justinian became Augustus in April 527, which leads to consideration of the genesis of Justinian’s church.
