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Hagia Eirene is a domed, three-aisled [[basilica]] in the architectural style that emerged in Constantinople in the late fifth-early sixth century. The dome of the church collapsed during the earthquake of 740. The building remained in ruins until rebuilt by emperor Constantine V around 753. During this restoration, the church acquired a cross-domed unit and the elliptical, domical vault over the western part of the naos as well as an [[atrium]] and a seven-stepped [[synthronon ]] with a kyklion, a vaulted passage under the synthronon. Also, substantial changes were made in the vaulting system throughout the building that significantly improved its stability against earthquakes. The vault of the semi-dome of the [[apse]] of the [[bema]] was given a slightly pointed shape and was decorated with the simple, two-dimensional mosaic of a stepped [[cross]]. The cross is outlined in black tesserae set against golden background. The cross, which resembles images of the Cross of Golgotha, suggests the beliefs of Constantine V and other iconoclasts for whom only the Cross and the [[Eucharist]] were acceptable images of [[Christ]].