Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-13
The Great Church at Constantinople.

LIE UIedt SHuIc I'll Ill SOHStdHtlnOplt.
There is belief of long standing
among the Greeks of Constantinople
that the church of Saneta Sophia, now
a mosque, shall be restored to Christi
anity. This grand building, which
covers about 10000 SCARE feet-more
than one and a-half acres-was erected
by Justinian in the sixth century. 1t
was eight years in building, and when
at last it stood complete, it appeared so
marvellous in the eyes of all who look
ed on it that it was generally believed
not only that an angel had given the
plan, but that heaven had rained gold
and gems for the express purpose of It's
construction. The noblest temples of
Greece and Asia were despoiled, and
pillars of the most precious marbles
were brought to Constantinople. Ephe-
sus, Pergamus, Baalbee gave up their
treasures; and masses of Egyptian pOr-
phry and of syenite, which centuries
before had been hewn for the honor of
Genus and Artemis, took their plat es in
the great Christian church. 1t was
the boast of Justinian that he had ex-
celled the temple of Jerusalem. Il
have surpassed thee. 0, Solomon" he
exclaimed, as he gazed on the complet-
ed building, and it is said that he
caused statue ofSolomon to be erected
opposite the church, with sad ex-
preston as though grieving at the vast
size and beauty of Justinian's work"
Earthquakes shook the church within
few days of its completion. The
great dome fell and was restored by
younger Isidorus, nephew of the me-
chanician." Repairs were made to the
fabric by successive emrerors; but the
design was never altered, and there
were no additions. Then came the
fatal May of 1853 At the high alter
of st. Sophia, Constantine received the
holy sacrament during the night before
the grand assault May 29), in which he
fell. As the news spread that the Mo-
hammedans had made their way into
! the city, the old awe and veneration
which had spread sort of mystery
around st. Sophia, returned. Senators,
priests, monks and nuns fastened to
take refuge within its walls, recalling an
ancient tradition that an angel would
descend at the moment when the in
fidels were advancing toward the col
unn of Constantine the Great. and,
putting a sword into the hand of a GER
tain man who would be sitting at the
base of the column, would order him
to avenge the people of Cod whereup-
on the Turks, seized with panic, would
take flight to the borders of Persia. But
no such heavenly aid came to the 90
600 people who crowded st. Sophia.
Mahomet ON entering the city rode
straight to the great church. Men, WO-
men and children were divided among
the soldiers as slaves, and all the furni-
ture, plate and ornaments disappeared
so quickly that. in the words of Finlay,
the mighty temple soon presented a
few traces of having been Christian
church" Mahomet himself was, it is
said, greatly impressed with the rich
marbles and the general splendor of the
place. He caused the muezzins who
were with him to summon the troops
to prayer; and his own prayer carpet
was spread OH the high alter. There
the Son of Iniquity," us the Christian
Ducas calls him, announced that the
orthodox Greek empire was extinct, and
from that time the church of Justinian
has served as the chief mosque of the
city. The various Christian embiems
were covered with plaster and thin coats
of paint, and mosaics, which could have
ofened no one, were afterwards treated
in a similar fashion. Large and heavy
exterior buttresses, rendered necessary,
it is asserted, by the shock of earth
quakes, were added by Selim II. and
Amurath Ill; but what might be con-
sidered fortunate neglect was more or
less the fate of st. Sophia until 1917,
when it was placed in repair by the
Italian architect Foscati, at the instance
of the Sultan Abdul Mejid. His work
lasted through two years, and was COM
pleted under great difficulties. Only
the zeal of Reschid Pasha, it is said
enabled him to bring it to a successful
end.