Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1915 — MOSQUE of SANTA SOPHIA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MOSQUE of SANTA SOPHIA

WHATEVER may be the fate of Constantinople as a result of the war, there is no one who does not fervently hope that the mosque of Santa Sophia, the ecclesiastical gem of the Turkish capital, will be spared. It is to the Greek church what the site of the Temple at Jerusalem is to the Jew and, except tor its possession by a strange religion, what St. Peter’s is to the Catholic. The repossession of Santa Sophia represents the goal of Russia's ambitions during several centuries. Concerning this great church edifice a writer for the National Geographic society says: Christianity has been productive of many wonderful places of worship, of temples richer In treasure and more beautiful in workmanship than those which have grown out of any other religion. Byzantine and Gothic 'architecture received their highest expression In sacred building, so much so In the case of Gothic that the lay mind confuses that architectural type with pictures of the wonderful cathedrals of France and Germany. Christian temples are among the most wonderful architectural accomplishments of all times, and by far and away their most resplendent example Is Santa Sophia, the oldest, the most magnificent, the most costly and the most Interesting of all Christian churches. Santa Sophia has become an Inspiration to all of Greek Orthodox belief who are fighting In the present battles of Europe. As St. Peter’s is the mother-church for all the Catholic world, so Santa Sophia is the motherchurch of all of Greek faith. One is the metropolitan of the East, the other of the West, and both are the grandest examples of architectural splendor within their faiths. Both are churches that cost almost fabulous sums in the building, and Santa Sophia cost almost twice cm much as St. Peter’s, or more than any temple since history began for the Christian world.

Built at Enormous Cost. It is estimated that Santa Sophia, including the values of ground, material, labor, ornaments and church utensils, cost about $64,000,000, while the common estimate of the cost of St. Peter’s, the chief present splendor of the Eternal City, is placed at $48,000,000. No other temple has ever approached Santa Sophia in the variety and preciousness of its marbles and in Its prodigal employment of silver, gold and precious stones. The first church constructed upon the site of Santa Sophia was built at the direction of the first Christian emperor, Constantine, in 326. Work on the great pile of the present venerable cathedral was begun by Justinian

in 533. Ten thousand workmen were employed until its completion, and the wealth of the whole empire was put to the severest test to furnish the steady golden stream which flowed and flowed for the carrying out of the ideas. Schools were stopped, it is said, that the salaries of the teachers might be diverted to Santa Sophia’s benefit, and the lead pipes of Constantinople were melted down In order to make sheeting to£ its roofs. Great Work Done Speedily. Europe, Asia and Africa contributed of their resources and of their historic marble columns and panels that the great cathedral might be unsurpassed among the glories of earth. Some say that the great work was finished in the marvelously short time of ten years, others are positive, even, that It was ready In six years. However this may be, it required 120 years u> build St. Peter's at Rome; 35 years to build St. Paul’s In London; 500 years to build the Milan cathedral, and 615 years to build the Cathedral of Cologne. There are millions of the Greek Orthodox faith who are looking confidently forward to the day when Santa Sophia will again be the principal cathedral of their worship. A bewildering wealth of legends clusters around the old cathedral, now defaced and mutilated as a Turkish mosque, and these legends throw a veil of the supernatural around it. One legend, which the Greeks like to remember, is that of the bishop who was celebrating mass as the wild Turkish hordes under Mohammet 11., conqueror of Constantinople, broke Into the church, and who escaped their fanatic wrath by walking into a niche made by the opening wall which again closed behind him. This priest Is waiting In the wall for the day when Santa Sophia once more comes under Christian power, when he will leave hts .place of refuge and continue, In celebration of the end of Turkish rule, the service in which he was Interrupted 500 years before.

SANTA SOPHIA