A Dark Day
Reader and friend Adam Goldsmith, whom I met a week ago today, did the math and sent me this sad reminder of one of history's darkest days:

[T]oday is the day Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, 552 years ago -- 29 May according to the Julian calendar.

Here are the evocative words of Kallistos Ware describing the events of that terrible day, from pages 71 and 72 of The Orthodox Church:

Outnumbered by more than twenty to one, the Byzantines maintained a brilliant but hopeless defense for seven long weeks. In the early hours of 29 May the last Christian service was held in the great Church of the Holy Wisdom. It was a united service of Orthodox and Roman Catholics, for at that moment of crisis supporters and opponents of the Florentine Union forgot their differences. The Emperor went out after receiving communion, and died fighting on the walls. Later the same day the city fell to the Turks, and the most glorious church on Christendom became a mosque.

I can hardly read that last line without spitting.

Mr. Goldsmith also sends this link with the inspirational story of the last Roman Emperor:



Great Martyr, the Emperor Blessed Constantine XI Paleologos

Mr. Goldsmith ends his message with this cry, which I heartily join: "May his heirs claim their throne!"

I've said it before and I'll say it again: THE TURK HAS NO PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION!