The Cycle of the Infancy of Christ is represented in the lunettes of the outer narthex.

27. The lunette on the north wall contains three scenes. On the left is Joseph
Dreaming. While asleep, he is informed by an angel of the truth concerning
the Virgin’s pregnancy, thus providing a resolution to the final scene in the
inner narthex. Behind Joseph is The Virgin and Two Companions, engaged
in conversation outside Nazareth. To the right, the holy couple begins The
Journey to Bethlehem, to be enrolled in the Roman census.

28. The cycle continues along the east wall. In the first lunette is The
Enrollment for Taxation. In this unique scene, the Virgin and Joseph
appear before an enthroned tax collector, who wears the regalia of a
Byzantine court official.

29. The Nativity appears in the second lunette, displaying standard
Byzantine features. The setting is a cave. The Virgin reclines on a mattress
while Joseph ponders the miracle of the Virgin Birth. The Christ child
appears twice, once in the manger, and once being bathed by midwives.
Over the hill, angels and the star announce the birth to the shepherds.

30. In the fourth lunette, to the right of the entry axis, begins an extended
narrative of the story of the Magi. The lunette contains two scenes: The
Journey of the Magi, in which they appear riding spirited horses, following
the star; and The Magi before Herod, in which they are shown carrying gifts
and dressed as priests, before an enthroned Herod.

31. The fifth lunette, partially preserved, shows Herod Inquiring of the Priests
and Scribes. Troubled, Herod searches for the newborn King of the Jews.

31a. Turning the corner into the seventh bay of the outer narthex (which
joins the parekklesion), the scene in the north lunette is missing but was
probably The Adoration of the Magi. The narrative concludes in the east
lunette with The Return of the Magi to the East. This is only partially pre-
served, showing a rider on a rearing horse.

32. The south lunette of the seventh bay, also partially damaged, shows The
Flight into Egypt. According to tradition, while fleeing from the wrath of
Herod, the Holy Family passed the city of Sotinen in Egypt, whereupon
the city’s 365 pagan idols were destroyed, leading to the conversion of the
population. Statues are shown taking flying leaps from their pedestals.
The Byzantines believed that pagan statues were animated by demons,
which may explain their vivacity.

33. In the south lunette of the sixth bay, another extended narrative begins,
concerning The Massacre of the Innocents. In an attempt to remove his
potential rival Christ, Herod orders the massacre, and his soldiers set out
in pursuit of innocent Jewish children. The small window in the panel is
original, opening into the belfry (subsequently minaret) stairs. In his
search, one soldier peers into the window.

34. In the west lunette of the sixth bay, the massacre continues with The
Soldiers Slaying the Children. The narrative focuses on details to represent
the massacre.

35. The Mothers Mourning Their Children. Again, the evocative vignettes convey
the emotion of the scene. Grief is shown in the women’s gestures and
expressions as they hold their slain and dismembered offspring.

36. The narrative concludes in the fourth lunette, showing The Flight of
Elizabeth and John. With a soldier in hot pursuit, his sword raised,
Elizabeth and her son, the future John the Baptist, escape miraculously
when a mountain opens up to hide them.

37. The second lunette, north of the entrance, contains two related scenes.
In the first, Joseph Dreaming, an angel informs him in a dream that it is
safe to return to Palestine. In the subsequent scene, The Return of the Holy
Family from Egypt, Joseph carries the infant Christ piggyback as they
return to Nazareth. The city fills the right side of the lunette.

38. The cycle of the Infancy of Christ concludes in the first lunette,
which shows Christ Taken to Jerusalem for Passover. The walled city of
Jerusalem fills one side of the space; in the center, Joseph leads the
family. Christ appears as an adolescent in a gold robe.
As with the life of the Virgin, this cycle appears unresolved, ending
with a transition that leads directly to the cycle of Christ’s Ministry.