When the Homily is about Immunology

May 28, 1453

I finished the last volume of Runciman's Crusades history a while ago and have since finished his spectacular work on "The Fall of Constantinople." It is a wonderful read...sad and bitter, but so well written as to almost read like a novel. I always knew that I was generally ignorant about the Crusades (perhaps not as much as the average joe on the streets), but I didn't really know HOW ignorant I was. reading these works has really fit MANY pieces into the puzzle of how we have gotten here from there - which I find to be one of the more rewarding things about studying history.

I want to share a brief excerpt about what was going on on the last day of the Roman Empire when the Christians (outnumbered almost 10:1) prepared to make their last stand - as it were. Byzantium had been dying a slow death, accelerated by the horrific events of 1204. Attempts at ecclesial union (e.g. Council of Florence) were really politically motivated attempts by Byzantine Emperors to try and garner aid from the west because they knew their days were numbered otherwise. The people would generally have none of it, having already driven out the Latins once some fifty years after they'd taken over in 1204. But on May 28th 1453, there was a disputed and weakly enforced union in place. To start the Emperor is telling his friends and council that the final Turkish assualt was about to begin.

All that were present rose to assure the Emperor that they were ready to sacrifice their lives and their homes for him. He then walked slowly round the chamber, asking each one of them to forgive him if ever he had caused offence. They followed his example, embracing one another, as men do who expect to die.

A sort of Forgiveness Vespers I imagine. Runciman's last sentence here is particularly interesting, I shall try to remember it at the beginning of next Lent.

The day was nearly over. Already crowds were moving towards the great Church of Holy Wisdom.For the past five months no pious Greek had stepped through its portals to hear the Sacred Litrugy defiled by Latins and by renegades. But on that evening the bitterness had ended. Barely a citizen, except for the soldiers on the walls, stayed away from this desperate service of intercession. Priests who held union with Rome to be a mortal sin now came to the altar to serve with their Unionist brothers. The Cardinal was there, and beside him bishops who would never acknowledge his authority; and all the people came to make confession and take communion, not caring whether Orthodox or catholic administered it. There were Italians and Catalans along with the Greeks. The golden mosaics, studded with the images of Christ and His Saints and the Emperors and Empresses of Byzantium, glimmered in the light of a thousand lamps and candles; and beneath them for the last time the priests in their splendid vestments moved in the solemn rhythm of the Liturgy. At this moment there was union in the Church of Constantinople.

I marvel at what extraordinary and terrifying circumstances can accomplish to make people open up to grander things. Who compromised what at this Liturgy? Were the papal claims to supremecy relaxed? Was the filioque left out? Or perhaps it was left in and the Greeks cared not? Does it matter?

Runciman relates a story that claims that when the Turks stormed the Hagia Sophia that the priests present - still serving at the altar - stepped back and while still carrying the sacred elements were "swallowed" up by the walls of the Chruch. Tradition has it that they will reappear when the Church is once again santified to host the Divine Liturgy.