Constantinople
Culture
Ecumenical Patriarchate Celebrates Epiphany with Blessing of the Waters
The Ecumenical Patriarchate celebrated the Epiphany as it usually does, with a cross thrown into the waters of the Bosphorus.
Culture
Washington, DC Group Keeps Memories of Constantinopolitan Society Alive
Members of the Greek diaspora around the world are known for their strong families and the ability to maintain unbroken connections with their homeland. This is perhaps even more important for those who once lived in the Byzantine city...
Culture
Greek EU Minister Schinas Expresses Anger Over Muslim Prayers in Hagia Sophia
"Turkey must finally decide what its broader geopolitical goal will be," said Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission's vice-president and Commissioner for the promotion of the European way of life, during the presentation of the new EU strategy for the...
Archaeology
Hidden Byzantine Church in Constantinople Revealed in All Its Glory
Recently published photos of an excavation site in the Sultanahmet District of Istanbul reveals a hidden church and holy spring dating back to the days of the Byzantine Empire.
The site is located on Amiral Tadfil Street in the very...
Greece
The Historical Memory of Constantinople, 567 Years After the Fall
Michael Goodyear*
May 29, 1453: the final Ottoman assault on Constantinople succeeds. Ottoman cannon fire had battered the great Theodosian Walls of the city. The last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos-Dragases, had torn off his imperial regalia and died fighting...
Europe
Erdogan Announces Islamic Prayer at Hagia Sophia on Anniversary of Fall of Constantinople
A replica wall of the famous Byzantine-era walls of Contantinople was erected outside Hagia Sophia on Thursday as Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a prayer to commemorate the 567th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople would be...
Greece
Istanbul vs. Constantinople — and Why Both are Greek Cities
On May 29, 2019, with the anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople approaching, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a municipal election campaign speech saying that Istanbul will never be called "Constantinople" again.
However, the Turkish President is probably unaware...
Archaeology
Neglected Historic Greek Sites in Turkey Falling into Ruin
The recent collapse of part of the historic Byzantine wall in the Topkapi neighborhood of Constantinople has raised concerns over the maintenance of a range of iconic ancient Greek, Byzantine and Roman sites in Turkey.
Part of the Theodosian Walls,...
Europe
Ecumenical Patriarch Announces Halt to All Orthodox Church Services Globally Due to Coronavirus
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a statement on Wednesday announcing the Church's new decision in regard to the covid-19 global coronavirus pandemic.
According to this statement, all religious ceremonies, events and rituals will be suspended in all of the Patriarchate's...
Europe
February 29 Marks 80th Birthday of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
2020 is a leap year, meaning that February has 29 instead of 28 days, and millions of people this year are celebrating their birthday accurately, for the first time since ...2016!
A person born on February 29 may be called a...