Inner Narthex

First Bay (at the south end of the narthex)

24. On the soffit of the first transverse arch.—To the east, the healing of the man with a withered arm; to the west, the healing of a leper.

South Dome

25. In the crown.—Christ the Pantokrator.
In the flutings, thirty-nine figures, arranged in two tiers, representing the ancestors of Christ from Adam to Esrom, Japhet, and the eleven sons of Jacob not in the line of ancestry.
26. On the south-eastern pendentive.—The healing of the woman with a bloody issue.
27. On the north-eastern pendentive.—The healing of Peter's mother-in-law.
28. On the south-western pendentive.—The healing of a deaf and dumb man.
29. On the north-western pendentive.—The healing of two blind men at Jericho.
30. On the eastern wall below the dome, colossal figures of Mary and Christ, technically named the Deësis.
31. On the opposite wall.—Christ healing divers diseases.
The mosaics in the three other bays of this narthex depict scenes in the life of Mary as described in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of S. James and other apocryphal Gospels. [543]

First Bay (at northern end).—The North Dome

32. In the centre.—The Theodokos; in the flutings, twenty-seven figures arranged in two tiers representing sixten royal ancestors of Christ, from David to Salathiel, and Melchisedec, Ananias, Azarias, Misael, Daniel, Joshua, Moses, Aaron, Ur, Samuel, Job.
33. In the north-eastern pendentive.—The scene has disappeared.
34. In the south-eastern pendentive.—S. Joachim (Mary's father) with his sheep in the desert, praying and mourning that his offerings have been rejected because he was childless.
35. In the north-western pendentive.—The High Priest judging Mary.
36. In the south-western pendentive.—The Annunciation to Mary.
37. In the eastern lunette below the dome.—The Annunciation to S. Anna, the mother of Mary.
38. On the soffit of the transverse arch between the first and second bays.—To the east, the meeting of S. Anna and S. Joachim; to the west, Joseph taking leave of Mary before his home, and proceeding to his work in another part of the country, accompanied by a servant.

Second Bay

39. In the eastern lunette.—The birth of Mary.
40. In the western lunette.—Joseph receiving the rod which marks him the successful suitor for Mary's hand, and taking her as his bride-elect.
41. In the vault.—To the east, Mary held in the arms of S. Joachim, receiving the blessing of three priests seated at a banquet; to the west, the child Mary caressed by her parents. This scene shows much feeling.
42. On the soffit of the transverse arch.—To the east, Mary taking her first seven steps ἡ ἑπταβηματίζουσα; to the west, the high priest praying before the rods, one of which, by blossoming, will designate the future husband of Mary.
43. On the eastern wall, to the north of the main entrance into the church.—The Apostle Peter with the keys in his hand.

The Third Bay