, 1878-03-16
THE MOsLEM TEMPLE.
The Great Church Al Csnstanfinoplc.

4
There is a belief of long standing among
| the Greeks of Constantinopie that the church
of Sancta Sophia-now q mosque-shali be
| restored to Christianity. The grand build
| ing which covers about 7O,OOO square feet
| more than one and half acres-Was erected
| by Justinian in the sixth century. 1t was
| eight years in building, and when at last 1t
stood complete it appeared SO marvellous IN
the eyes Of all who saw II that 1t was be-
heved not only that An angel had given the
| plan, but that heaven had rained gold and
gems for the express purpose OF ITS eonstruc-
ton. The noblest temples of Greece and
Asia were despoled, and pillars of the most
! precious marbles were brought to Constanti-
nOple. Ephesus, Pergamus, Baalbec gave
up their treasures, and masses OF Egyptian
| porphry and of syenite, which centuries be-
fore had been hewn for the honor OF Zeus
and of Artemis, took their places in the great
| Christian church 1t was the boast Of Justin
| ian that he had excelled the temple at Jern-
salem. 81 have surpassed thee, U Solo
mon, he exclaimed as he gazed on the COM
pleted building, and it is said that he caused
a statue of Solomon to be erected opposite
the church, with sad expression, as
though grieving at the vast size and beauty
of Justinians work Earthquakes shook the
church within few years of its completion
The great dome fell, and was restored by
younger Isidorus, nephew of the "n.echanl-
cian." Repairs were made to the fabric by
successive emperors, but the design was
never altered, and there were no additions.
Then there came the fatal May of l453. At
the high altar of st. Sophia, Constantine re-
ceived the Holy Sacrament during the night
before the great assault tMay 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 round st. Sophia
returned. Senators, priests, monks, and
nuns hastened to take refuge withip Its walls,
recalling All ancient tradition that al angel
would descend at the moment when the IN
fidels were advancing toward the cOium OF
Constantine the Great, and, putting a sword
into the hands of . certain man who would
be sitting at the base of the column, would
order him to avenge the people of God;
Whereupon the Turks, seized with a panic,
would take flight to the borders of Persia
But no such heavenly aid came to the TWEEN
ty thousand people who crowded St. Sophia.
Mahommet on entering the city rode straight
to the great church Men, women and cinl-
dran were divided among the soldiers as
slaves; and all the furniture, plate and or
naments disappeared so quickly that, in the
words of Finlay, "the mighty temple soon
presented few traces of having been a Chris
tian church" Mahommet himself was, IL is
said, greatly impressed with the rich Inar
bles and general splendor Of the place. He
eansed the mnezzins who were with him to
summon the troops to pray; and his own
prayer-carpet was spread on the high altar.
There the "Son of Iniqui:y," as the Chris
tian Ducas calls him, announced that an or
thodox Greek empire was extinct; and from
that time the church OF Jus:in!an has served
as the chief mosque of the city. The varions
christian emblems were covered with plaster
and thin coats of paint. and mOsaics, which
could have offended no one, were afterwards
treated in similar manner. Large aad heavy
exterior buttresses, rendered necessary it is
asserted by the shock of earthquakes, were
added by' SeIim H., and Amurath I'LL; but
what might be considered fortunate neg
lect was more or less the fate OF st. Sophia
until lS47, 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 completed under
great difficulties. Only the zeal of Resehid
Pasha, it is said, enabled him to bring it to
successful end.