Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 639 Religious Authority
Patriarch Antimus IV of Constantinople was anxiously awaiting an audience with the Sultan. As the leader of millions of Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire, he was prepared to be killed by the Sultan for advocating for the interests of his followers.

For centuries under Ottoman rule, the Church fared relatively well. However, after Greece gained independence, their situation deteriorated, and they lost their patriarch.

When the new Sultan took office, he immediately issued a decree supporting all of the Sultan's policies. He didn't even say anything during the raids on Galata.

Now that he has received permission from the Sultan to meet, he doesn't know what the meeting will be about. But judging from the living conditions of Iranian Orthodox Christians, this is a very tolerant monarch. An agreement should be possible, and if money is involved, he can grit his teeth and pay.

"The Sultan has arrived!"

Naser al-Din entered the room at the servant's call.

"May the Lord bless you, Your Majesty the Sultan." Antimus IV bowed slightly in accordance with etiquette.

Naser al-Din waved his hand. "No need for formalities, Your Majesty. Please have a seat."

The two sat facing each other in a room covered with ornate Ottoman carpets, separated by a small table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, on which sat two steaming cups of coffee, but there was no translator present.

“I have heard that the Church maintained admirable restraint during the Galata incident,” Naserdin said bluntly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Antimus IV cautiously replied, “Sultan, the Church’s duty is to guide the souls of believers toward the Kingdom of Heaven, not to incite them into worldly strife. What we pray for is peace and order.”

“A very good answer.” Naserdin picked up his coffee and took a sip. “So, how does the Church view the current tensions between the Empire and the Kingdom of Greece, as well as certain external powers? I mean, those who are using the banner of liberating Orthodox Christians.”

This was precisely the most crucial and dangerous question. Antimus IV felt a cold sweat break out on his back; he knew his answer could determine the fate of the entire Orthodox community within the empire. He took a deep breath and chose honesty:
"Sultan, St. Peter taught us to respect monarchs. The Church of Constantinople has lived on this land for centuries and is inextricably linked to the fate of the Empire. We know all too well that the concern of certain external powers is often accompanied by fire and sword, and it is the ordinary believers who ultimately suffer. The liberation they promise may come at the cost of countless families being displaced and the complete destruction of their faith." He skillfully avoided directly criticizing Russia, but the meaning was self-evident.

Naserdin listened quietly, his face expressionless, which made Antimus IV even more uneasy.

“Patriarch,” Nasser al-Din put down his coffee cup, leaned forward slightly, and said with a sharp look in his eyes, “I invited you here not to hear your pronouncements, nor to ask the church for money. I am here to give you, and all the Orthodox Christians under your rule, a future.”

Antimus IV was stunned. He had considered all sorts of possibilities, including being extorted for a huge sum of money, but he never expected this sentence.

Naserdin continued, “I know that past policies have brought pain and unease to your community. But that era is over. Under my rule, the law will protect all subjects who abide by it, regardless of their beliefs. You have seen the model of autonomy in Bosnia; that is not the end, but the beginning.”

What could Antimus IV say to the Sultan? He desperately wanted to declare Naser al-Din the protector of the Orthodox Christians, someone who would respect their faith and even grant them certain powers—a power that, in the current situation, surpassed that of any previous Ottoman Sultan.

"Thank you, Sultan, for your support of the Church. I think everyone else will be grateful for your kindness!" "Gratitude need not be rushed, Your Excellency. What I would like to see more is action, the determination of the Church of Constantinople to stand with the Empire. For this purpose, I have prepared two gifts, but of course, the Church must show corresponding sincerity."

“I have been thinking about how to truly embody the Empire’s tolerance and unity,” Naserdin said slowly. “It wasn’t until I saw Hagia Sophia that I understood what true reconciliation really means. The government plans to return Hagia Sophia to the Orthodox Church.”

Antimus IV’s breathing suddenly quickened; he could hardly believe his ears.

"Specifically, the main church building will no longer be used as a separate mosque. It will be transformed into a museum, open to the world, showcasing its magnificent history and architectural art. At the same time, a dedicated area and fixed times will be set aside to allow the Orthodox Church to hold important religious ceremonies and celebrations here, such as Easter or your inauguration."

This was not a complete return, but it was undoubtedly a considerable surprise. Granting the Orthodox world an unprecedented symbolic victory and substantial religious rights without altering ownership was enough to move Antimus IV and all Orthodox Christians to tears of gratitude.

"This...this is truly..." Antimus IV's voice trembled, overwhelmed with emotion, "Sultan, your magnanimity is as vast as the heavens! If this can truly be realized, it will be a great step towards reconciliation and coexistence!"

"Whether this step can be taken depends on whether the Church can help the Empire overcome its current difficulties, and... future cooperation." Nasserdin then changed the subject, revealing his true, and more ambitious, goal.

"The Patriarch should know that the Tsar has proclaimed himself the protector of the Orthodox Church, and the Moscow Patriarchate, under his control, has grown increasingly powerful, even attempting to challenge the ancient authority of Constantinople as the universal Patriarch. This is not merely a religious matter, but a weapon Russia uses to interfere in the internal affairs of the empire and incite division."

Antimus IV fell silent; this was his deepest, most hidden pain. Supported by Russia's power, the prestige of the Patriarch of Moscow grew daily, while the Patriarch of Constantinople's universal leadership had long since become a mere formality, even dependent on Russia's influence.

“The Empire can be your solid backing.” Nasser al-Din’s voice was full of enticement. “The government will support the Patriarch of Constantinople as the supreme spiritual authority of Orthodox Christians worldwide, whose position is unshakeable. The Empire will spare no effort in terms of funding, public opinion, and even diplomatic resources.”

“And what you need to do,” Naserdin stared into the Patriarch’s eyes, “is to use your authority to declare that the Moscow Patriarchate, under the oppression of the Tsar’s secular power, has strayed from the right path, and that its claims of ‘protecting Orthodox Christians abroad’ are invalid and destructive. You must call upon all Orthodox Christians, especially those within Russia, to be loyal to their true spiritual leader: you, Patriarch Antimus IV, not the puppet of that Tsar in Moscow.”

This was one of Nasser al-Din's most insane ideas: to use religious authority to undermine Russia's legitimacy in waging war from within, and even to incite instability within its borders! Once the Patriarch of Constantinople publicly condemned the Patriarch of Moscow, it would be tantamount to dropping a bomb in Russia's spiritual sphere. For a country where Orthodox faith was so closely intertwined with national identity, this blow would be fatal.

A long silence fell over the room, with only the aroma of coffee slowly spreading in the air.

Ultimately, the intense desire to restore some of the glory of Hagia Sophia, the deep expectation to revive the authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the long-standing dissatisfaction with Russia's brutal intervention overwhelmed his inner fears and hesitations.

Antimus IV raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination. He made the sign of the cross with his right hand and said, word by word, "Sultan, you have shown unprecedented wisdom and tolerance. For the sake of the purity of the faith and the well-being of the believers, the Church of Constantinople... is willing to stand with the Empire until the very end."

(End of this chapter)