Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-06

The Greek Element in the Eastern
Question. m
In considering this ingredient IN the Euro
pean troubles, it may be well to look at the
antecedents of the Greek element Greece
ceased to be an independent nation two hun
bred years beforeithe Christian era; being con-
quered by the Romans and incorporated into
that empire, of which it remained an integral
portion, until the grand division of the Ro-
man empire, Gin the fourth century, into
eastern and western powers Constantinople
(the ancient Byzantium) being the capital of
the former, and Rome Of the latter; this polit-
ical arrangement being maintained, with some
notifications, until the irruption ofthe Cloths,
and subsequent dissolution of the western
empire, towards the close of the 18th century.
In 1860 the Eastern, or Byzantian empire,
was oveuun, and Constantinople taken by the
Turks, under whose power the Greeks re-
manned, until the revolution of 1921; when,
after single handed struggle of six years,
France, Russia and Great Britain interposed,
and after two years negotiation, declared the
country under their protection installing
| German Prince, King of Greece.
This revolution was fostered by society
called the Het@ria, originally protesting litera-
ry and religious objects only; but finally,
openly avowing the intention of emancipa-
ting Greece from the Turkish rule, and look
ing forward to the reconstruction of the By
zantian Empire, with Constantinope, once
more as its metropolis. This society had its
allies throughout Europe, the Emperor Alex
ander of Russia, taking an active interest in
its plans This, the political history of Greece,
is better known than the history of the Greek
church, which is the influential element at
the present time, and which we propose briefly
| to trace out.
The Greek church was formed BY gradu-
al dissent,a and finally a formal separation from
the Latin or Romish. The controversies com
menced by struggle for supremacy, as early
as 347 A. D., at the council of Sardis, and
continued, chiefly directed to the attainment
ofpower, until the year COG, when victory de-
clared for the Latins. But rivalry was not
ended; it was only diverted into different
channel; Immediately question was started
relating to the procession of the Holy Ghost
and controversy arose, which increased in
virulenee through three succeeding centuries,
the point of the whole matter being this-does
the spirit proceed from the Father and the Son.
or from the Father through the son the Lat
ms maintaining the first proposition, and the
Greek christians the latter. From the discus
sion of this difference, arose others, and no
reconciliations of consequence were effected,
until 869, at a council held by the Emperor
Basil, at Constantinople, in which satisfaction
was given to Pope Adrian but the schism
was not crushed; new complaints were brought
against the church Of Rome, and counter
charges brought by them against the Greeks,
until finally Pope Leo TX. excommunicated
(i504) the patriarch of ConstantinopIe; a pro-
ceeding, which instead of bringing the Greek
church to submission, made the rupture ire
parable, and these two great divisions of Chris
tendon have remained entirely separate and
antagonistic from that time to the present.
The adherents Of the Greek Church now
occupy greater extent of territory in tho
eastern hemisphere than the Roman; compre-
hending large portion of ancient Greece, the
Grecian isles, Syria, Cihcia, Palestine, Astra-
can, Cascan, Georgia, Abyssinia, Nubia, Ly-.
bia, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Wallachia,
Moldayia, and the whole of the Russian En-
pire. In most of these countries, except
Greece proper, and Russia, the Greek church
is in subordinate position, politically con-
sidered; the Mahomedan being in the ascend
ant, and in many Of them, as in the Turkish
provinces the Greek christians have for CEN
turtles, suffered intolerable expressions and in
dignities, from their Mahomedan rulers
Austria, Italy, and France, are Roman Cath
Ole; the hereditary rivals of the Greek-Great
Britainsis Protestant,and they cannot sympa-
thize with her. Of all the European powers,
Greek church.
Here then is Turkeys weak point, and the
strength Of Russia. To all Of these millions
of Greek christians, lover fifty milhons) who
never amalgamated with either Turk or Pagan,
but have kept themselves as distinct people
as the Jews, the Emperor Nicholas stands
forth as champion. We have heard within
few weeks, impatieuce expressed, at the
ssstupid Greeks in Wallachia and Moldavia, .
for not quietly waiting to see Russia annihila-
ted by the allies and for weakening the Turk
ish power, by their inopportune insurrections.
But why they should be expected to sympa-
thize with Turkey we cannot imagine; their
history and memory runs only ON wrongs and
cruelties, borne from their Mahomedan mas
tiers the ameliorations introduced, of late
years, are naturally placed to the account Of
State policy, rather than good will. If the
Sultan has granted them favors, they expect
rights under Russian rule They owe the
Turk no gratitude; they hope every thing, for
their church, from the ascendancy Of tho
Russian arms. Ofcourse Russia has not been
remiss in availing herself Of this latent feel
ing in her favor, among the Greek christians in
Turkey. Itremains only for the allies to out
bid here this her stronghold, 1.-THE sympathies
of the entire Greek Enthusiastically Erse-
ing Union.