The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-02-08
THE NOSLEM TEMPLE.
The Great Church at Constantinople.

There Is a belief Of long standing
among the Greeks of Csnsrsnrinople that
the church of Sancta Sophis-now Q
mosque-shall be restored tc Chrisliani-
ty. This grand building. which covers
about 20 600 square feet-more than one
and half acres-was erected by Justin.
ian in the sixth century. 1t was eight
wears in building. and when at Last Il
stood complete it appeared 30 marvellous
in the eyes of all who saw it that it was
generally believed not only that an an
gel had gwen the plan, but that Heaven
had rained gold and gems for the e1-
press purpose of its construction. The
noblest temples of Greece and Asia were
despoiled, and pillars of the most pre-
clous marbles were brought to Constan-
;inople. Ephesus, Pergsmxs, Baalbec,
gave up their treasures; and masses Of
Egyptian porphyry and of syenite,which
centuries before had been hewn for the
honor of Zeus and of Artemis, took their
places in the great Christian Church. 1t
was the boast of Justinian that he had
excelled the temple at Jerusalem. II
have surpassed thee, o Solomon" he e1-
claimed as he gazed on the completed
building, and it is said that he caused q
statute Of Solomon to be erected opposite
the church, with sad expression, "a
though grieving at the vast size and
beauty of Justinian's work. Earth
quakes shook the church within Q few
years of its completion. The great dome
fell, and was restored by = younger Isl
dorus, nephew of the @mechanicisn."
Repairs were made to the fabric by sue
cessive emperors; but the design was
never altered, and there were no addi-
tons. Then came the fatal May Of 1883
At the high altar of St. Sophia, Constan-
tine received the Holy Sacrament during
he night before the great assault MAY
29). in which he fell. As the news
-pread that the Mohammedans had
made their way into the city, the old
awe and veneration which had spread a
sort Of mystery round st Sophia return
ed. 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 infidels were advancing toward
The column of Constantine the Great.
and, putting sword into the hand Of
certain man who would be sitting ct The
base of the column, would order him 10
svenge the people God; whereupoa tho
Turks, seized with q panic, would tske
fight TO the borders of Persia. But no
such heavenly aid came 70 the twenty
th ousand people who crowded StSophia.
Nahomet on entering the city rode
Straight to the great church. Men, wo-
men, and children were divided among
the soldiers as slayes and all the fIrni-
ture, plate, and ornaments disappeared
90 quickly that, in the words Of f'inlay,
The mighty temple soon presented few
traces Of having been a Christian
Church. Mahomet himself was, it is
said, greatly impressed with the rich
marb es and general splendor Of the
place. He caused the muezzins who
were with him to summon the troops TO
prayer; and his osn prayer carpet was
spread on the high alIer. There the
son of Iniquity," as the Christian Ducss
calls him, announced that an 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 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 and heavy
exterior buttresses, rendered necessary
it is asserted, by the shock of earth
quakes, were added by Selim H., and
Amurafh Ill; but what might be con-
sidered fortunate neglect 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 Meid. His work lasted
through tvo years, and was completed
under great difficulties. Only the zeal
of Reschid Pasha, it il said enabled him
10 bring it to a successful end.