November 10- The Agiasmata at Vlacherna and Zoodochos Pigi

No one can come to the city of Constantinople and not be awed by the massive stone walls. Most of the wall is in disrepair since it does not have to protect the city from invaders as it once did. There is some restoration work on some of the wall so you can see how massive they were. Expanded by Emperors whose primary concern was the safety of the city, they are now- perhaps as then- supports for dwellings, areas for growing vegetables and crops and areas to walk in.

They stopped many armies from capturing the city until that fateful day in May 1453 when an unguarded door allowed the Ottomans to exploit that weakness, capture the city and make it theirs.

Before then the city was threatened by the Avars and it was at the Church of Panagia Vlacherna that the Akathist Hymn was sung and the Kontakion of “Ti Ypermacho” becomes ingrained in our collective Orthodox consciousness. In the face of an invading army the Patriarch begins the service and marches on the walls of Constantinople with the icon of the Panagia. The invaders are beaten back by the intercessions of the Virgin Mary.

At the gate the sign reads “Ayazma Meryem Ama.”- “Agiasma of the Mother Mary.” According to Islam Jesus is a prophet and Virgin Mary, the prophet’s mother. Many a Muslim woman have prayed for the intercessions of the Virgin Mary. “From henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”  It is ironic that in our own country, evangelical protestants barely acknowledge her while another faith all together gives her some type of honor. Granted it is not the same type of veneration that Orthodox and Catholics give her, but it is honor nevertheless.

Panagioti, the tour guide, has informed us that the Emperors would enter the waters in order to be protected in battle. Pangia Vlacherna was a part of the Vlacherana Palace complex that began around 500 AD. The agiasma would have been part of that imperial complex. As such it makes sense that the Patriarch would begin the Akathist Hymn in the Imperial Church.

The present Church is unassuming. The glory of the old Imperial Panagia Vlacherna has faded into history. The ravages of earthquake and the terror of September 1955 have taken its toll. The present church is from about the late 1950's.  The Church is being renovated in the inside.

I found this blog on the web and has pictures as well
http://taxidiaris.blogspot.com/2010/05/church-of-vlacherna-istanbul-turkey.html

Any renovations done on the churches of Constantinople are paid for by the Patriarchate. There is no government help. With a community of about 3,000 the churches themselves cannot pay for their own renovation. There is simply not the financial wealth of the early 20th century Greeks of Constantinople. 

There was something unusual about this church and all churches. The windows either had bars on them or metal window closures on the INSIDE and the doors were metal with heavy duty closures. For all intents and purposes these churches become not only spiritual places of refuge but physical places of refuge in case of times of civil unrest such as  September 1955. They are virtual fortresses until civil authorities have enough and restore order. With metal window closures they fend off rocks and other items of destruction from being thrown inside. 

The second stop was at Baloukli and the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi.
The story and history of the monastery is at this blog: 
http://taxidiaris.blogspot.com/2010/05/zoodochos-pigi-at-baloukli-istanbul.html
http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/04/bright-friday-life-giving-spring-of.html

The graves of Patriarchs Athenagoras and Dimitrios as well as other Patriarchs and hierarchs of the Church are located there. I chanted “Αιωνία η Μνήμη”.

History Note: The city was known as Constantinople until the foundation of the modern Turkish state in 1923.