Elias Sarantopoulos
Educator / Designer / Book Author

Elias Sarantopoulos, Educator, Designer, Book Author

Originally from Athens, Greece, Elias relocated to the United States, where he earned both his BA and MA degrees. He launched his career in the mid-1990s, contributing to tech startups centered on web technologies while simultaneously serving as a part-time faculty member across multiple academic institutions. Over the past 32 years, he has established himself as a dedicated educator, teaching university courses and creating content for online platforms in areas such as page layout, animation, vector graphics, and interaction design.

In 2016, Elias published the Church of Chora, establishing himself as a book author. This groundbreaking work stands as the most comprehensive interactive guide to the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, Istanbul, home to some of the oldest and most exquisite surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. The book offers a richly immersive experience, featuring interactive maps, voice narrations, video content, biblical references for each depicted episode, original Greek inscriptions from the artworks, and more than 300 meticulously captured photographs. In recognition of its innovation and depth, The Church of Chora received the BEST ADULT NON-FICTION INFORMATIONAL E-BOOK.

In 2025, Elias was honored with the Teaching & Learning Excellence Award from the esteemed Özyeğin University, a testament to his unwavering commitment to student success. The award recognizes years of passionate support, innovative design education, and a continuous pursuit of emerging tools and techniques that empower learners to grow creatively and prepare confidently for real-world challenges.

Church of Chora

Istanbul's Byzantine Marvel

Church of Chora, a Golden Award winning book is the most interactive guide describing some of the oldest and finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, Istanbul, Turkey.

The Church of Chora book is the most interactive museum guide describing some of the oldest and finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the Chora church located in Istanbul, Turkey. Formerly known as the Kariye Camii and now the Kariye Müzesi (Chora museum), it is one of the most remarkable remnants of the Byzantine Empire, one of the best things to do and a top rated tourist attraction when visiting Istanbul.

The Chora Church book has been created with such passion and zest, the way I always feel entering the building. The use of interactive maps, voice narrations, and videos greatly improve reader experience. It provides unique and very detailed photographs capturing some of the oldest and finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes as well as citations and references from the Old and New Testament.

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