During the early history of Christianity
there was five cities became particularly important for the church: Antioch,
Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome.
Antioch was one of the first cities to be
evangelised by Christian missionaries and there, the followers of Christ had acquired name of Christian (Acts 11:26).
The
church in Alexandria was, according to tradition, founded by Mark the
Evangelist.
Constantinople, the ancient city of Byzantium, became the
capital of the new pro-Christian under Constantine empire of Byzantium.
Jerusalem was at the heart of Christ's
ministry and the place of his crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension.
Rome
is the martyrdom Place of both St Paul
and St. Peter under the rule of Nero.
The word "Jerusalem" means
"city of peace." thus Jerusalem is one of the most interesting cities
in the world. It is always in the news. Jerusalem is a holy city for religions of the world: Judaism,
Christianity and muslims, Jerusalem is
known as the city of David in which
Solomon’s temple exist there, Jesus was crucified,
Jerusalem has many titles that identify it
as the ‘city of God’ (Psalms 46:4, Revelation 3:12), the city of Jehovah
(Isaiah 60:14), the mountain of the Lord (Isaiah 2:3), the mountain of Jehovah
of hosts (Zechariah 8:3), the holy mountain of Jehovah (Isaiah 27:13) and Zion
of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:13). Generally the phrase "the holy
mountain", refers to Jerusalem (Psalms 48:1, Isaiah 11:9, Daniel)
The book (Halley’s Bible Handbook / 655)
refers:
"Jewish Wars, in revolt against Rome,
began A.D. 66. Titus with his Roman Army arrived before the walls of Jerusalem
on the day of Passover, A.D. 70. Banks of earthwork were built, battering rams
were placed, and the siege began. The Roman Army numbered 30,000; the Jewish
Army, 24,000. The city was crowded with 600,000 visitors, according to Tacitus.
After 5 months the walls were battered down, the Temple burned, and the city
left ruined and desolate, except Herod's three great towers at the northwest
corner, which were left standing as a memorial of the massive strength of the
fortifications which Titus had demolished. 'The Roman Army moved down to
Caesarea. Over 1,000,000 Jews were killed. 95,000 captives were taken, among
them Josephus."
Thus, they consider that Jerusalem is the
Capital of Israel during the History and "all evidence confirm that fact", while strong aspiration of the others to
occupation of Jerusalem was a dream and
still, specially Islam which was aware that the fall of Jerusalem constitute a
victory for the their religion, therefore, in the year 637 A.D. Jerusalem fell
to the followers of Islam, and it remained a muslim's city, except for a period
of about 100 years during the Crusade Period, until 1917 when it returned under
the control of Jews.
For Christians, during the history of patriarchs of Constantinople, the holy see of Constantinople's patriarch has had a great spiritual prestige, as well as an authority over his political rivals.
Between the 8th and 11th centuries the jurisdiction of patriarchate saw a great spread over westwards from southern Italy, northwards into Russia.
In 1453 Constantinople fell under the Ottoman rule; where was the end of Constantinople and the imperial lineage, where the last Byzantine emperor died in battle defending the city walls.
and Constantinople, the Byzantine's capital, became under Ottoman Empire the command of Sultan Mehmed II, that was in Tuesday, May 29, 1453.
The final destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire, was at the death of Constantine XI, the previous Byzantine emperor, but also the strategic conquest crucial for Ottoman rule over the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. The city remained capital of the Ottoman Empire until the empire's dissolution in 1922, and was officially renamed Istanbul by the Turkish Republic in 1930.
The conquest of Constantinople and subsequent expansion into the Balkans was more than compensated of their loss of islamic possessions in Spain.
In 1453 Constantinople fell under the Ottoman rule; where was the end of Constantinople and the imperial lineage, where the last Byzantine emperor died in battle defending the city walls.
and Constantinople, the Byzantine's capital, became under Ottoman Empire the command of Sultan Mehmed II, that was in Tuesday, May 29, 1453.
The final destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire, was at the death of Constantine XI, the previous Byzantine emperor, but also the strategic conquest crucial for Ottoman rule over the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. The city remained capital of the Ottoman Empire until the empire's dissolution in 1922, and was officially renamed Istanbul by the Turkish Republic in 1930.
The conquest of Constantinople and subsequent expansion into the Balkans was more than compensated of their loss of islamic possessions in Spain.
Islamic world has a big coveted in Constantinople, since the time of the caliphate, after "Muhammad" the Islamic Prophet, onwards to Islamic periods subsequent to the present day, has had a dream to conquer Byzantine Empire, represented by Orthodox Church, where Orthodox Church considered an extension to Byzantine Empire.
In Europe, the fall of Constantinople was a tragic moment. Where Byzantines was represented the Vanishing Roman Empire, which created the early Europe, and the new Rome "Constantinople" has had a direct influence on legacy, political and social and legal practice of Europe as well as was the dream to restoring Empire of Europe..
Now patriarchate of Constantinople is a prisoner of the Turks in Istanbul since the conquest by the Ottoman , So the Orthodox Patriarchs are prisoners in their own city. The situation is worse today because the Patriarchs of Constantinople , accepted the Gregorian calendar, which meaning they left the Orthodox line, so they became subject to the will of the Pope of Rome, that led to the loss of historic orthodox strength, as well as led to the loss of a lot of sacred tradition.
Editor: Rev.Spyridon Tanous
Orthodox Patristic Church- Sweden
www.christ-prayer.org
