As one of MFoD's closest chums is soon to be on his way to Turkey, it's a good time to deal with the country's most important city: Istanbul, or is it Constantinople?
With a with a 99% Muslim population, yet with a staunchly (some may say ruthlessly) secular government, Turkey is a bit of a paradox in today's world. This paradoxical situation is not new to the land area on which the Turkish populace live, as our blog shall discuss.
"Asia Minor" was the old name for Anatolia, Asian Turkey. Until the incursion of Islam, the region was Greek in language, culture and architecture. Indeed, one of the modern Turkish government's dearest charges is the guardianship of literally thousands of ruins from Hellenistic and Roman times.
When Emperor Constantine I decided that a distinctly backwater town, Byzantium, ought to be the new Rome, he brought into being a glorious city, one that today still glows under the mantle of "imperium." The town's strategic value, standing as it does on the Bosporus Straights, and controlling all sea traffic between the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, was chief in the emperor's mind. It was a brilliant decision, bringing the city, soon to be called (though never officially named) "Constantinople" into a position of world domination.
As the city prospered and took over Italian Rome's place in the empire, a question emerged among the newly-legalized religion of Christianity. At this time, the more important cities in the religion were Syrian Antioch and Egyptian Alexandria, not Rome or Jerusalem as might be expected. Both cities were powerhouses of theology, and wished for similar strength in the political realm. It was not to be. However, the cities had two points in their favor: they were the strongholds of a culture more ancient than that of Byzantium, and they were incontestably "Apostolic Sees."
For the uninitiated, an Apostolic See is a Christian community traditionally founded by one of the Apostles (Rome and, obviously Jerusalem, had that honor, but had not yet gained religious importance). Constantinople found itself at a disadvantage, for there was no record of an apostolic visitation, nor was there any reason for there to be one. The solution? Invent such a visitation.
The Apostle chosen to be the "founder" was St. Andrew. His history, as told in Acts of the Apostles, certainly did not rule out the possibility that he did yearn to convert those in northern climes. And, there were those rousing stories that appeared in the 3rd Century that had him converting cities full of cannibals and saving virgins from impropriety. Of course, such an heroic figure would found the Church that was to become the First City in the Roman Empire. Even then, he knew. His remembrance day (November 30) is looming as we write.
Today, the See remains the home of the Patriarch of Constantinople (while studying in Turkey, MFoD was entertained in his beautiful wooden palace). The new name, "Istanbul" is, believe it or not, Turkified Greek, translating very roughly as "City on the Hill."
Turkey, a land of delights, of excellent food, well-preserved ancient ruins, MFoD's favorite basilica (Hagia Sophia), and, for the most part, pleasant open-minded people. And a country with one of the most varied histories on earth. And above it, the mystery of the Apostles hovers. Such a glorious set of paradoxes.
With a with a 99% Muslim population, yet with a staunchly (some may say ruthlessly) secular government, Turkey is a bit of a paradox in today's world. This paradoxical situation is not new to the land area on which the Turkish populace live, as our blog shall discuss.
"Asia Minor" was the old name for Anatolia, Asian Turkey. Until the incursion of Islam, the region was Greek in language, culture and architecture. Indeed, one of the modern Turkish government's dearest charges is the guardianship of literally thousands of ruins from Hellenistic and Roman times.
When Emperor Constantine I decided that a distinctly backwater town, Byzantium, ought to be the new Rome, he brought into being a glorious city, one that today still glows under the mantle of "imperium." The town's strategic value, standing as it does on the Bosporus Straights, and controlling all sea traffic between the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, was chief in the emperor's mind. It was a brilliant decision, bringing the city, soon to be called (though never officially named) "Constantinople" into a position of world domination.
As the city prospered and took over Italian Rome's place in the empire, a question emerged among the newly-legalized religion of Christianity. At this time, the more important cities in the religion were Syrian Antioch and Egyptian Alexandria, not Rome or Jerusalem as might be expected. Both cities were powerhouses of theology, and wished for similar strength in the political realm. It was not to be. However, the cities had two points in their favor: they were the strongholds of a culture more ancient than that of Byzantium, and they were incontestably "Apostolic Sees."
For the uninitiated, an Apostolic See is a Christian community traditionally founded by one of the Apostles (Rome and, obviously Jerusalem, had that honor, but had not yet gained religious importance). Constantinople found itself at a disadvantage, for there was no record of an apostolic visitation, nor was there any reason for there to be one. The solution? Invent such a visitation.
The Apostle chosen to be the "founder" was St. Andrew. His history, as told in Acts of the Apostles, certainly did not rule out the possibility that he did yearn to convert those in northern climes. And, there were those rousing stories that appeared in the 3rd Century that had him converting cities full of cannibals and saving virgins from impropriety. Of course, such an heroic figure would found the Church that was to become the First City in the Roman Empire. Even then, he knew. His remembrance day (November 30) is looming as we write.
Today, the See remains the home of the Patriarch of Constantinople (while studying in Turkey, MFoD was entertained in his beautiful wooden palace). The new name, "Istanbul" is, believe it or not, Turkified Greek, translating very roughly as "City on the Hill."
Turkey, a land of delights, of excellent food, well-preserved ancient ruins, MFoD's favorite basilica (Hagia Sophia), and, for the most part, pleasant open-minded people. And a country with one of the most varied histories on earth. And above it, the mystery of the Apostles hovers. Such a glorious set of paradoxes.
Image: Icon of St. Andrew
3 comments:
Hello! Found your link through Vetivresse.
Are you Greek? I found the turkified greek of the new name suggestive of such... ;-)
Great post about a great city and myth. And btw, Rome and St.Peter are also a bit mythical, as you probably know (the latin quote about Peter and the foundation of the church upon him).
Thanks for visiting; Vetivresse is the "chum" spoken of here. I'm not Greek, but my main research area is Patrology: the Greek and Latin (and other languages) Fathers of the Church. While no genius in Greek, I do get along. Also, I studied in Turkey.
Very interesting, thanks for replying.
Yes, Greek and Latin are the main languages one has to be able to read when studying those subjects; too true.
Loved your angles on this blog.
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