| Transcript |
WITH THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR. 15
to 250,000 dollars. When the exigency of the state requires such a sum, the existing patriarch is deposed or strangled, and his successor pays it on his election. Thi3 causes a constant succession; the tenure of a patriarchate seldom exceeds a year or two. On payment,
however, of the money required, a written diploma, called Berat, is given, securing to the
patriarch the full and free exercise of his functions. This is strictly observed by the Turks,
till they seek occasion to depose him, and appoint another.
Under the Greek empire, the number of bishops was unsettled. They now amount to
150, of whom 60 are suffragans, and three claim independence of any superior ecclesiastical
authority in their own sees. Both patriarchs and bishops are judges in right of their
office, not only in matters of faith and discipline, in their church, but also in civil and
criminal cases. They are assisted by a synod composed of laics and ecclesiastics, and
administer justice in their courts with the same formalities as Turkish functionaries,
with attendants, formerly Janissaries, who are bound to execute their decrees. The code
of laws by which they decide is that of Justinian, and they have the power of condemning
delinquents to prison or exile. Such is the reputation of those courts, that Turks and
Jews are known to appeal to them in preference to their own tribunals.
As the office of patriarch is purchased from the Porte, that of prelate is purchased
from the patriarch ; the amount paid is proportionate to the value of the sees, and varies
from 18,000 to 150,000 piasters. This, with various other sums paid on different
occasions, both by clergy and laity, form a common chest, out of which all the expenses
of the Greek church are defrayed. This is managed by a kolvov, or public community,
composed of members taken from all classes ; for, notwithstanding the state of slavery and
depression in which the nation lives under their Turkish masters, they preserve a semblance
of freedom, and manage their own affairs by popular assemblies, like their republican
ancestors.
The clergy, as in the Western church, are divided into regular and secular: the first
are called Kaloyers, literally, " good old men," the latter Papas, or " fathers." The kaloyers
are generally men of better education; they are not allowed to marry, and, as the dignitaries of the church are all taken from this class, neither patriarch nor bishop is permitted
to have a wife. So rigidly is this regulation enjoined, that from some convents cows, hens,
and all females of inferior animals, are excluded, as infringing on monastic discipline. They
inhabit numerous edifices, scattered all over the Turkish empire. They are very strongly
built, resembling fortresses, and in fact are retreats to which people retire from the outrages of pirates and robbers. They are seen the most conspicuous objects on hills and
islands by land and sea; the most remarkable are those of mount Athos in Europe, and
mount Sinai in Asia. The papa, or secular priest, is generally a married man; he is
allowed to take one wife, and not marry another after her death ; he has no fixed residence,
is generally very illiterate, poor, and humble, and but little respected.
The dress of the clergy under the Lower Empire was not remarkable; and under
the first year of the Ottoman sway, it retained its indistinct simplicity ; but in the
reign of Soliman an alteration took place. A deputation of the patriarch and his prelates
issued from Adrianople, to do him homage; and the Turks seeing this mass of people |
