Destruction of Anastasis Dome Earthquake Open site page in a new tab
Angeloni in Tucci (2019:35), without citing a source, states that “a violent earthquake at the start of the 9th century damaged the Anastasis dome,” adding that it was repaired in 810 CE under Patriarch Thomas. Eutychius of Alexandria reports that the dome was repaired around this time at the initiative of Patriarch Thomas, but he does not state why repairs were needed and makes no mention of an earthquake (Pearse, comp. 2024:181–182). The damage may instead relate to the Commemoratorium de Casis Dei Quake, which is known to have affected the Nea Church. This event is attested in the Commemoratorium de Casis Dei, composed in 808 CE, which records that the Nea Church—originally commissioned by Justinian (r. 527–565)—had suffered earthquake damage, though no specific date is provided. Alternatively, one of the 749 CE Sabbatical Year earthquakes remains a plausible candidate for the damage in question.

By Jefferson Williams