According to a Christian legend going back to the 2nd century A.D., St. John lived on this hilltop and, on his death, was buried there. At first, the grave was marked by a memorial, which was enclosed in the 4th century A.D. by a church with a wooden roof; a century later, Justinian (527-565) erected over the spot a domed basilica remains of which are still standing. Entry to this cross-shaped building was gained on the west through a courtyard , leading into the narthex to the east and so into the nave of the church proper. Six domes formed the roof of the nave and the transept, while galleries stretched in an unbroken line over the aisles from the narthex as far as the apse. St. John’s grave was situated under the most central of the domed sections. Sacred dust rising from the grave through a hole was believed to have healing properties. Throughout the Middle Ages, St. John’s grave was one of the most important shrines in the Christian world to which pilgrimages were made. East of the central chamber and separated from the place where the presbyters sat is a synthronon of semi-elliptical shape.