St. Nicholas of the English
Bogdan Serai

Image, 1877, by Alexandros Geōrgiou Paspatēs, Wikipedia Public domain

11th century Byzantine capital is from the Varangian Guard Church of Saint Nicholas. It is in the Church of the Wisdom of God, on the south wall next to the pulpit, Lower Kingswood, Surrey, England

Photo: C Myers, St Nicholas Center

11th century Byzantine capital from the Varangian Guard Church of Saint Nicholas, now in the Church of the Wisdom of God, Lower Kingswood, Surrey, England

Photo: C Myers, St Nicholas Center

11th century Byzantine capital from the Varangian Guard Church of Saint Nicholas, now in the Church of the Wisdom of God, Lower Kingswood, Surrey, England

Photo: C Myers, St Nicholas Center

Chapel ruins, 1908

Photo, 1908: Wikipedia Public domain

Church ruins, unknown date

Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Constantinople Turkey

[Eastern Orthodox]

The church was in the Blachernae quarter, now in ruins. It belonged to the Varangian Guard, the Byzantine imperial guard. The Turks called it "Bogdan Serai" (Moravian Palace). The Guard was made up of recruits from Northern Europe and Anglo-Saxons from England. The chapel is thought to have served the English in the Guard. They were prominent from around 1080 until sometime around 1200.