According to the Patria, John I Tzimiskes demolished the Bath of Leo to use its materials for the building of the Chalke church. Magdalino (1988) speculates that John's demolition might have to do with the Bath's ideological classical properties, and that a usurper such as John had to 'atone for the "usurpation" by conspicuous philanthropy and deference to the patriarchs who crowned them' (p. 114-115).