After the Ottoman conquest, the Christians who stayed in Constantinople faced constant danger. They made up about 40% of the population and were often forced to pay high taxes. At the same time, the Christian churches still standing were under threat from Muslim religious leaders. Over time, many churches were converted into mosques.
A Plan to Remove Christian Churches (1538)
In 1538, Turkish scholars said that, because Constantinople was taken by force, Islamic law did not allow Christian churches to remain in the city. A firman (official order) was issued to remove the remaining churches Changes to the Parakklesion.
Patriarch Jeremias I’s Fight to Save the Churches
Patriarch Jeremias I found out about this secret order. He prayed in front of the icon of the Virgin Pammakaristos, asking for help to protect the remaining churches in the city. This mosaic icon still exists today in the Phanar.
A Clever Plan to Change the Sultan’s Mind
Jeremias I went to Grand Vizier Tulfi Pasa and asked for help. The Grand Vizier suggested a plan: convince the Sultan Suleyman that Constantine XI had surrendered to Mehmet II, instead of losing the city by force Daily Ephesus Tours.
To prove this, two elderly witnesses, who had been at the siege of Constantinople 84 years earlier, swore under oath that they had seen the surrender with their own eyes.
The Sultan’s Decision
The Sultan accepted the testimony (possibly after some bribes were paid) and canceled the firman. Instead, he issued a new order that protected Greek churches in Constantinople. This important document was stored in the Savior Chapel of Pammakaristos.
