Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-12-15
NUMBER 80.
THE GREAT CHURCH.

There is belief of long-standing
among the Greeks of Constantinople that
the Church Of Sancta Sophia, now
mosque, shall be restored to Christianity.
This grand building, which covers about
10000 square teet-more than one and n
half acres-was erected by Justinian in
the sixth century, 1t was eight years in
building, and when at last it stood COM
plete, it appeared so marvellous in the
eyes of all who looked on it tina. 1t was
generally believed not only that an angel
had given the plan, but that Heaven had
raincd gold and gems Tor the express pur-
pose of its construction. The noblest
temples of Greece and Asia were des-
poied, and pillars OF the most precious
marbles were brought to Constantnople.
Ephesus, Peagamus and Baalbcc gave
up their treasures and masses of Egyp-
tian porphry and of syente, which CEN
turies before had been hewn for tho hon
or OF Zeus and Artem;s, took their places
in the great Christian Church. 1t was
tho boast Of the Justnian that ho had ex-
celled tho temple at Jerusalem. have
surpassed thee, o, Solomon !" he eX-
claim ed, ms he gazed on the complete
building, and it is said that he caused n
statue of Solomon to bo erected opposite
tho church, with II sad expression rs
though growing at the vast slzo and
beauty of Justinian's work."
Earthquakes shcoil the church within \
few years of its completion. Tho grea
dome fell and was restored by II younger
lsidorus, nephew of the mechanican."
Repairs were made to the fabric by sue
cessive emperors but the design was
never altered, and thorc were no addi-
tions. Then came the fatal May of 1888.
At the high altar OF st, Sophia, Constan-
tine received the holy sacrament during
the night before the grand assault (May
29), in which no fell. As the news spread
that the Mohnmmodans had mado their
way into the city, the old awo and veR-
Grafton which hNG spread sort Of mys-
terry around ST. Sophm returned. Sena-
tors, priests, monks aud nuns hastcncd
to take refuge within its walls, recalling
an ancient tradition that an angel would
descend at the moment when the inhdels
were advancing toward tho column OF
Constantine tho Great, and, putting
sword into the hand of certain man who
would be sitting Mt the base Of the coli
umn, would order him to avengo the peo-
pie OF God vhoreupon tho Turks, seized
with panic, would take flight to tho
borders of Persia. But no such heavon-
~ aid came to the 20,0O0 people who
crowded st. Sophia. Muhomct on enter
ing the city rode straight to the great
church. Men, women and children were
divided among the soldiers as slaves, and
all the furniture, plato and ornaments
disappeared SO quickly that, in tho words
of Finlay, " the mighty temple soon pro-
sented few traces of having been Chris.
tian church." Mnhomot himself was, il
is said, greatly impressed with tho rich
marbles and the general spendor of tho
place. He caused the muezzins who
were with him to summon the troops 10
prayer and his own prayer carpet was
spread on the high altar. There the "Son
of Iniquity," MS the Christian Ducas calls
him, announced TINT tho Orthodox Greek
empire was extinct; and from that time
the church Of Justinian has served ~ tho
chief mosque Of the city. The various
Christian emblcms were covered with
plaster and thin coots ofpant, and mosa-
les. which could have offended 70 ono.
we're afterwards treated in similar FASH
ion. Larue and heavy exterior buttres-
sos, rendered necessary, it Is assorted, by
the shock Of earthquakes, were added by
Selim III and Amurath III; but what
might be considered fortunate neglect
was more or less the ate Of ST. So2hia un-
til 1S47. when it was placed in repair by
the Italian architect Foscati, Mt the in-
stance OF the Sultan Abdul Mejid. His
work lasted through two years, and was
completed under great difficulties. Only
the zeal OF Reshid Pasha, it is said, ena-
bled him to bring it to II successful end