Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-05-31
The Mosleln Temple.

There is belief of lon" standing among
the Greeks of Constantinoplcthal the churrl
OF santa Sophia, now Il mosque, shall be re-
stored TO Christianity. This grand building
which covers about 10000 square feet, NOR,
than one and a half acrcs-was erected h>
Justlnlan in the sixth century 1t was eight
years III building. and when ut last it stood
complete, IT appeared SO marvellous in the
eyes OF all who saw it that it was generally
ne'eTed not only that an angel had given
the pan, but that heaven raincd gold and
Sell'S l"r the express purpose of its cnnStruc-
ton.
The nohlcst temples of Greece and Asiu
were dcspoiIc,l, and pillars of the most nrrr.
lous marbles were brought to Constantine.
PIE. Ephcsus Pcrgamos, Baalbces, gave u
lnrlr , treasures, and masses of Egyptian por-
phyry and sycnte, which centuries befor,
had been hewn for the honor of Tcus and
Artrmls took their places in the great
Christian church. 1t was the boast of JUS
tlnian that he had cxccllcd the temple or
.]cruSalrm.
have surpassed thee, oh, Solomon :" he
exclaimed, as he gazcd upon the completed
building and II is said that he caused a
statue of Solomon to be erected opposite
the church, with sad expression, as though
grlevlng ut the vast size and beauty of JUS
tinian'S work.
earthquakes shook the church within Il
few years ofits completion. The great dome
fell and was restored by Il Younger Isadorlls,
nephew Of the mcchanician. Repairs were
made to the fabric by successive empcrors ::
hut the design WAS never altered and there
were no additions Then came the fatal
May of l453. At the high altar OF st.
sophia, Constantine received the holy sacra-
mrnt during the nigh before the ~r> at
assault May 29), in which he fell.
AS the news spread that the Mahamma-
dams had made their way into the city. the
Old awe and vcncration which had spread Il
sort fmystcry around st. Sophia returned
Senators, priests, monks and nuns FASTENED
I" take refuge within its walls, recalling an
ancient tradition that an angel would de-
Srrnd ut the moment when the inlidels were
advancing toward the column of Conslan-
tine the Great, and putting sword into
the hand of certain man, who would be
sitting nj the base Of the column, would or
der him to avcngc the people of God
whcrcupon the Turks. seized with panic,
would take to flight to the borders of
Persia.
But no such heavenly aid came to the
twenty thousand people who crowded ST.
Sophia. Mohammcd, on entering the city.
rode directly to the great church. Many
women and children were divided among
the soldiers rs slaves and all furniture,
plate and ornaments disappeared so quickly
that, i'll the words of Finley, "the mighty
temple soon presented few traces of having
been Il Christian church."
Mohammed himselfwas, it is said, greatly
impressed with the rich marbles and splcn-
dor ofthc place. Hc caused the muczzins
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 lniquity." as the Christian Ducas calls
him, announced that an arthodox Greek
Empire was extinct; and from that time the
church oi ,Illstnian has served rs the chief
mosque OF the city.
The various Christian embcms were cov-
cred with plaster, and thin coats of paint
and mosaic which could have offended no
one, were afterward treated in similar
manner. Several large and exterior but
trcsscs, rendered necessary, it is asserted, by
the shock of the earthquake, were added by
Sclim III, and Amurath ILL.,; but what might
be considered Il fortunate neglect was more
or less the fate of st. Sophia, until 1917,
when it was placed in repair by the Italian
architect, Foscati. ut the instance Of the
Sultan Abdul Mcjid This work lasted
through two years, and was completed un-
der great difficulties. Only the zeal of Res
child Pasha, it is said, enabled him-to bring
it TO 4 successful end.