An Irish Priest Wrote About the Constantinople Prophecies in 1838

Narrative of a Journey from Constantinople to England: This impression on their minds is confirmed by ancient prophecies, which are current among them. Prophecies on this subject existed among the Greeks at the time of the former Russian invasions; and some of them are given by Nicetas, Codinus, and the Byzantine historians, which prove they were current in the empire, and not modern fabrications. One of them I will mention. There stood in the Forum Tauri an equestrian figure, but it was not known whom it was intended to represent. On the base of the pedestal, was a prophecy, which is thus described: It contains a history of future events; that the Russians () should storm the city. The Turks, who have many confused recollections and traditions of Greek events, frequently give names, in their language to places containing allusions to them; thus, they call Chalcedon, Kadi Kui, the City of the Judges, from some indistinct knowledge of the councils of the Greek church held there. In the same way they adopted the superstitions, and particularly the prophecies, current at Constantinople when they took possession of itone of which was this of the Russians, and so they have cherished it ever since. They are influenced also by many other causes equally slight, which nevertheless make a powerful impression on the weak and superstitious fancy of a Turk. Among them is a coincidence of names which is rather curious. Constantinople was taken and lost at different times by persons who bore the same name. The Latins, under a Baldwin, obtained possession of it, and under a Baldwin they were again driven out of it. The city was rebuilt, and made the seat of the Greek empire, by a Constantine, the son of Helena, and in the patriarchate of a Gregory; it was taken, and the empire of the Greeks destroyed, under a Constantine, the son of Helena, and in the patriarchate of a Gregory; the Turks obtained possession of it under a Mahomet, and they are firmly persuaded they will lose it under a Mahometand that Mahomet the present reigning Sultan; and, to complete this chain of names, when the Greek insurrection broke out, a Constantine was the heir apparent to the Russian throne, and a Gregory was the patriarch of Constantinople. They hanged at the time one of these ominous persons, and the other has since abdicated the crown. Still they are persuaded that events will happen as they are decreed, and the fatal combination of Mahomet, Gregory, and Constantine, will yet destroy their power in Europe. But, indeed, it does not require these portentous things to warn the Turks of their threatened destiny. The actual progress of the Russians ought to be a natural source of serious alarm. From the time that Peter the Great captured Azoph and advanced into Moldavia, they seem never to have abandoned their project of finally planting the Russian standard on the walls of Constantinople, and every succeeding year has been a persevering and sanguinary struggle to advance their object. (pp. 49-52). Notwithstanding the actual and hopeless misery into which the survivors of these families are now plunged, there is nothing so buoyant and sanguine in the Greek temperament, that they are never reduced to despair, but still expect prosperity and independence. This feeling is kept alive by superstitious impressions, a belief in prophecies, and an expectation of their accomplishment, in which they are as credulous as the Turks. I send one of these extraordinary productions which is now circulating among them: it is said to have been copied from an ancient tomb of Constantine the Great. It consisted of words composed entirely of consonants, which were unintelligible, till Gennadios, the Patriarch, who was appointed immediately after the Turks took possession of the city, interpreted the prophecy, by supplying

the vowels. It is certain, that it is not a recent production, for it is known to have been circulated in Constantinople for at least a century. It is not impossible that it may have been the prophecy alluded to before, or some modification of it. There is an exceedingly beautiful sarcophagus in Constantinople, shown at the tomb of Constantine, and converted by the Turks into a small cistern. I have frequently examined it with attention, but could not find on it traces of an inscription. It is certain, however, that predictions of the Russians entering Constantinople existed in the time of the Greek Empire. The yellowhaired race here mentioned are, of course, the Russians; but who the individual is, I leave it to your sagacity to discover. If the prophecy be of a recent date, or this part be recently added, it is certainly Constantine; whose mother had him so baptised for the express purpose. (p. 289-90) Prophetic Inscription on the Tomb of Constantine the Great: The following are the letters which were found written on the Tomb of Constantine the Great. The following explanation of these letters was given by Scholarius, otherwise called Gennadius, the first Patriarch of Constantinople, after the capture of that city by the Turks: On the first of the Indict, the kingdom of Ishmael, he who is called Mahomet, shall overturn the race of the Palaeologi, shall gain possession of the seven hilled (city). He shall reign within it, shall subdue very many nations, and shall desolate the islands as far as the Euxine Sea. He shall lay to waste those who border the Danube. On the eighth of the Indict he shall subdue the Peloponnesus. On the ninth of the Indict he shall lead his forces against the countries of the north. On the tenth of the Indict he shall overthrow the Dalmatae. Again he shall turn back yet for a time; he stirs up a mighty war against the Dalmatians, and is a little broken (or crushed), and the peoples and tribes, with the assistance of the Western nations, shall engage in war by sea and land, and shall overthrow Ishmael. His descendents shall reign with less, little, very little (power). But the yellow-haired race, together with all their coadjutors, shall overthrow Ishmael, and shall take the seven-hilled (city) with its (imperial) privileges. Then shall they kindle a fierce intestine war until the fifth hour, and thrice shall a voice shout, Stand, stand! And fear (to proceed) and haste; and on your right hand you will find a man, noble, admirable, and courageous: him ye shall have for your Lord, for he is my friend, and, in accepting him, my wish is fulfilled. End of the Prophecy, and glory to God.

Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine: Church of the Nativity - Roman Byzantine mosaic with stylized swastika - Emperor Constantine period