The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-06-14
The Holy Banners OF Russia and
Turkey.

1t was stated as an important fact some
weeks ago thai the Russian regiments
after their arrival on the Danube ex-
changed the Imperial standard for the
holy banner Of the Greek Church. An
other statement Was to the effect that
every regiment was given, in addition TO
! the National STANDARD, the church banner
representing the religion and the tradi-
lions of the old Greek Empire. This in
| dictated, it was held, the purpose on the
part of the Gar TO wage war in the name
OF tie church and in behalf of the Perse-
cuted Christians of Turkey.
The Russian Imperial standard Is yell
low, charged with the double. headed eagle
of Constantine the Great, symbolical
Of the Eastern and Western Empires,
which were united under his rule. This
emblem was adopted by Ivan I. on his
marriage with a Princess Of the Greek
Imperial house. On the breast OF the
eagle, which is black, are emblazoned the
ancient arms Of Russia, St. George and
the dragon. ON red field.
This Imperial flag is used only on great
occasions. The common naval flag OF
Russiai is Greek cross in blue on white
field. s.ss
The holy banner Of Russia, or of the
Ii,
tary standard adopted by Constantine the
Great in cOmmemOrati0n of the appear
ance OF the cross in the sky when he was
on the march against Maxentius, the
claimant to the throne of the Western
Empire. On The eve of the decisive bat
tie that ended in the defeat Of Maxentius
and the union of the whole Roman En-.
pire under Constantine ca. D. 312), the
Emperor, it is stated, saw, AS in vision,
the cross in the sky, with the words, By
this conquer He was the first Christian
Emperor, and his great deeds and great
conquests are associated with the standard
of the Greek Cross.
II On Constantine was bestowed the title
!" Cesar" and many writer's have claimed
that the title Gar had its origin in the
title bestowed on Constantine the Great.
The Russians represent the religion and
the spirit OF the old Greek Empire, and
under the holy banner of Constantine and
the church make war against the enemies
of the old Eastern or Greek Empire.
Turkey, like Russia, has two flags,
one the Imperial standard represent
ing the power of the Ottoman Empire,
and the other the flag of the Prophet,
symbolizing the Mohammedan religion.
The National or Imperial flag is red,
with white crescent and star This flag
was the device of Diana Byzantine, the
patroness of Byzantium (Constantinople),
and was hoisted first by Nohammed H.,
after the capture Of Constantinople by the
Turks in 1853.
The Mohammedan flag, or the flag of
the Prophet, is dead back. There are
two stories as to the origin of this flag.
Tradition has it that the original flag of
Mohammed was made from the white
silk of the turban belonging to the chief
of the Koreish, the tribe to which his
parents belonged and the first tribe he
sanquished. He soon substituted the
black, however, making it from the cur
tain which hung in front of the door of
his favorite wife; aDd this is the sacred
relic, which, passing from Mohammed to
Omar, the second Caliph of the Moslems,
after many changes of hands, came into
possession of the Sultans of Turkey. 1t
was brought into Europe by Sultan
Amurath Ill. about the close of the six
tenth century, and has been religiously
guarded by his successors ever since.
When it is unfurled religious war is
proclaimed, and the Mohammedans
throughout the world are called upon to
defend the faith. The black flag has been
associated with the most relentless and
cruel wars of history with TIE wholesale
slaughters and piratical acts of the Turks,
when animated by spirit of fanatical
hate, and has become the symbol of war
to the death, of war il which no quarter
is granted, no prisoners taken -
But the flag of the Prophet is not re-
sponsible for the bad reputation of the
black flag" of murderous warfare. The
character of the early wars waged in the
name Of the Prophet suggested the black
flag rs the emblem of war to the death.
The unfurling of the flag Of the Prophet
means now that the Sultan of Turkey
calls on Mohammedans of all nations to
assist him with men and money.-Chscago
Inter Ocean.