The New York herald., 1922-12-18
ORTHODOX PREDICT
DISASTERS'IN EAST
Revive Prophecies Of Evil to
Constantinople if Greek
Patriarch Is Ousted.

SPECIAL Gable to TIE NEW YoRK HERaLp.
Copyright, iscs, by THE New YORK HmALp.
CoNsrANrINopLE, Dec. 17.-Ancient
predictions Of catastrophies to befaIi
Constantinople when it ceases to be the
seat of the ecumential patriarchate, are
being revived throughout the Eastern
Christian Orthodox world, as it aban-
order for the departure Of the Greek
patriarch and the abolition of his seat
here.
One of the most persistent OF these
prophecies is that the dome OF Saint So
phia will fall. and superstitious observ-
ers say. they have noticed assures In
this edifice, once q great Christian ca
thedral. now mosque and the pride OF
the Moslem world. One of its immense
pillars stil1 bears the mark made by the
battle AK of the Sultan Mahmoud when
he stormed the city and rode on horse
back into the church and, striking the
pillar. took possession in the name OF
Mahommed.
For centuries there have been such
predictions Of catastrophies If the Turks
drove the patriarchate from CONSTANT
nople. Many of the Eastern Christians
believe that Meletos ~. the present
Patriarch will rather allow himself 10
be slain in his palace than desert his
post. Just as the last of the Byzantine
emperors died fighting. on the walls OF
Constantinople, when it was stormed by
the Turks.
But the old wooden palace Of Phanar
for centuries the Vatican OF the East
will soon cease to exist as such. and
Constantinople will no longer be the
home of Eastern ORTHODOXY. .r
The CONSERVATION caused among the
Christians OF the East by the Turkish
edict that the Patriarch must so is
widespread. Even after Kemal Pasha
had announced tina. he must no longer
rule in Constantinople there was hope
that the Christian nations represented
at Lausanne might save him. but this
hope has now been abandoned with the
failure Saturday of United States AM
bassador Child to change the Turkish
decision.
The Allies efforts to save the pa
trisrchate has caused an unfavorable
impression in Angora, where II Is
charged that the political activity Of
tho Greek patriarchs In Constantinople
has been the cause OF all the racial dis
Thus. Meietios w, who visited Amer
ica recently. seems destined to be the
last of n long limo OF ecclesiastical
rulers who trace the origin of thcir
power back to the days Of Constantine
the Great, and who have regarded
themselves as representatives of the old
Byzantine emperors.
Around them rally the last remnants
Of the great families of Byzantium. de-
scendants Of the empcrors and states
men OF the Eastern Empire. Now, this
shadowy relic Of a glorious past Il
doomed to disappear and all the ex-
,ravagant hopes entertained by the
Christian peoples in the Balkans OF re-
establishing the capital Of, the Greek
Orthodox world In Constantinople have
been extinguIshed.
Approximations OF the Christians here
are intensified by the announeenent
that the Turkish Government has de-
terniined to expel all Greeks not born
in the city. According TO Turkish esti-
mates 100000 Greeks will be forced to
leave Constaptinople under this ar
rsnecment. Others estimate the num-
ber OF Greeks to be expelled as high as
100000. In any case. an exodus is inn
minent. which will swell the already
enormous multitude OF refugees.
Greek merchants are selling all their
goods which they cannot easily move.
Pianos are selling for $50. q Ford car
ear. be bought for $50. Furniture is
almost given away. Rents have de-
cres sed so per cent. and American
French and Italian citizens who arc
supposed 10 be in a position TO protect
thsir property are being offered hand
some furnished houses rent free by rich
Greeks who are departing IL they will
agree 20 live In them.