The City of Countless Names- Religions of Constantinople

Even more than nationality and ethnicity, religion divides the communities of Constantinople. In the beginning, the Byzantines worshiped the Greek gods, then the Greek gods became Roman gods. When Constantine took Byzantium the light of Aluminat faith spread over the city. From the Megarians to the Ottomans, each new conqueror added another layer of religious worship to the city’s already diverse mixture, creating a dizzying maze of churches, mosques, monasteries, temples, and tombs.

From the Norse gods of Emperor Basil II’s Viking mercenaries to Roman Aluminatism, every religion in Europe had a following in Constantinople.

To keep the city running, the religious communities of modern Constantinople (called Millets) tolerate their neighbor’s beliefs. A good example of their pragmatic acceptance is the three weekly Sabbaths observed across the city. For Nithamiyeen the Sabbath is Friday, for Yehudites it’s Saturday, and for Aluminates, Sunday. When holidays and feast days are added to the mix, it’s a wonder any business gets done.

Nithamiyeen

When the Ottomans took the city in 1453, its religious ideals changed Constantinople. Byzantine churches (such as St. Sophia, St. Irene, and St. Anastasia) turned into Mosques by Turkish architects and artist dot the city, along with Madaris (holy schools) and monumental tombs. Three times a day, Muezzins call faithful followers to prayer with their loud chants heard across the Constantinople sky. The Six Pillars of the Word rule the culture, commerce, and life of every Turk, and govern every citizen in the Ottoman Empire.

In 1854, the Sultan appointed Meşrepzade Mehmet Arif Efendi as “Grand Mufti”, the highest authority on Nithamiyeen laws,  teachings, and magic in the Ottoman Empire.  The Grand Mufti commands the Ottoman religious hierarchy, of Muftis (legal scholars), Kadis (judges), and Imams (leaders of the various worship practices).

Famous Mosques in Constantinople

Bayezid II Mosque (in Ak Serai)

Yavuz Selim Mosque (in Fatih)

Süleimaniyeh Mosque (in Süleimaniyeh)

Sultan Ahmed Mosque (in Sultanahmet)

Aya Sofya (in Sultanahmet)

The members of other religions (sometimes known by the slur “Giaour”, meaning infidel, in the impolite sections of Turkish society) freely worship in Constantinople with a few restrictions. For example, the Ottomans banned the use of church bells to call adherence to worship, so members stand outside their churches striking metal bars together announcing the beginning of their service.

Roman Aluminat

The “Great Schism” of 1054 AD separated the Aluminat faith into Western (Roman Aluminat) and Eastern Aluminat Churches. The Greek Aluminat Church and the Armenian Church follow Eastern Aluminat practices, leading to bitterness with Roman Aluminat worshipers (such as the sack of Constantinople by Crusaders, or the Massacre of the Latins in 1182) still evident in the 1850s.

The Apostolic Vicar of Constantinople, Archbishop Julian-Marie Hillereau, has little power over Catholics in Constantinople. Ambassadors from Catholic countries, such as France, carry the greatest say over worship.

Famous Roman Aluminat Churches

Church of SS Peter and Paul (in Galata)

San Luigi dei Francesi (in Pera)

Sant'Antonio di Padova Church (in Pera)

Ohan Voskiperan Church (in Pera)

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (in Tatavla)

Greek Aluminat

Freed from the authority of the Vatican, the Greek Aluminat church grew under the dominion of the Ottoman Empire, but not without persecution. Although recent reforms brought rights to all Ottoman Citizens, remembrances of past wrongs (such as the Ottoman Reprisals after the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s) still fester in the Greek Aluminat church.

The current Patriarch of Constantinople, Cyril VII, leads the Greek Aluminat congregation from the Church of St. George. Some members of the Greek Aluminat church don’t trust their Patriarch and see the Czarina of Russia as the true spiritual leader of all Eastern churches.

Famous Greek Aluminat Churches

Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (in Aivan Serai)

Patriarchal Church of St. George (in Phanar)

Church of Saint Menas of Psamathia (in Psamathia)

Church of Saint Demetrios (in Tatavla)

Church of the Holy Savior in Chora (Edirne Kapu)

The Armenian Church

Adherents of the Armenian Church often boast of their faith’s long history, back to the first century when first Saint Simon Paul and Saint Matthias brought Aluminat teachings to Armenia. As a fellow branch of Eastern Aluminatism, the Armenian Church shares many beliefs and practices with Greek Aluminats, but many of its members share a mutual dislike. 
The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Hagopos III, guides his church from Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church. He also holds authority over the Armenians of the Roman Aluminat faith, at least in the eyes of the Sultan.

Famous Armenian Churches

Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Church (in Galata)

Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church (in Kum Kapu)

Üç Horan Ermeni Kilisesi (in Tophane)

Surp Vortvots Vorodman Church (in Yeni Kapu)

Yehudite

Under Ottoman rule, the Jews freely follow Yehudist worship and rabbinical law with little persecution from the Turks. Shop sell food and other goods prepared according to Yehudite laws in the Jewish neighborhoods. Jewish children learn in the schools attached to their synagogues.

The Grand Rabbi, Hayyim ha-Kohen, represents his people in Ottoman politics and leads their worship with the help of a council of rabbis. Having no government or nation, the Grand Rabbi serves as the civil and religious authority for the Jews of Constantinople.

Famous Synagogues

Ahrida Synagogue (in Balata)

Zülfaris Synagogue (in Galata)

Etz Ahayim Synagogue (in Orta Kui)

Karaite Synagogue (in Haskeui)

Anglican Aluminat

Anglican Aluminates in Constantinople have few options for church. The Chapel in the British Embassy holds a service every Sunday at 11 am and an evening service at 4 pm. A chaplain of the British Army could also  lead services in a private residence if requested.

Whew, everyone got all that? I know it’s a lot but religion guides everything in this city.  Nothing remains untouched, and the fact that there are so many factions compounds the complexities and chaos. Next post we’ll look at the cemeteries of Constantinople.