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English writings, 1915–1921
St Nikolai Velimirović
The Spiritual Rebirth of Europe (1920), 4. IV. The Redemption of Saint Sophia
A Sermon preached in
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH
COVENT GARDEN
BY
BISHOP NICHOLAI
At the Solemn Eucharist of Intercession
sung thereat by the Society of
the Faith on Jan. 12, 1920
I am very pleased to see the people of London meeting to pray for the liberation of S. Sophia—so many soldiers of Christ who are prepared to enlighten the Christian world as to the meaning and the necessity for the liberation of S. Sophia.
I am going to tell you the significance which S. Sophia has always had for us. That meaning is mystical. It is historical. And it is symbolical. What is the mystical meaning of St. Sophia? The name itself means the Holy Wisdom, which itself means God Incarnate; that is to say, Christ Himself.
The building itself responds to the meaning of the word—Incarnate. It was built quite of new material. The material came from all countries. It has columns of all the Divinities known and worshipped before Christ. It is marvellous in its representation of all the kingdoms on earth. The mineral kingdoms are represented in all its parts. Stones of every kind, marbles and alabasters and granite; and there are figures of all the animals.
It is the greatest interpretation of Christian doctrine; the most wonderful representation of Christian worship. It represents the beginning and the end of the world. That is its mystical meaning.
It has an historical meaning for us also. For us Slavs it has a tremendous meaning. The Slav race numbers nearly two hundred millions of Christian people—never mind whether they belong to the Eastern or Western Church. They used to live all together. S. Sophia is the great Slav Missionary. She converted the Slav world to Christ. The Russians never could have become Christians but for S. Sophia. That is the historical meaning for us.
What is the historical meaning for the Greeks, the Armenians, the Syrians, and the Christians of Asia Minor? It is their heart and their soul; their hope and their inspiration always. Before S. Sophia fell the Christians of the East had always hoped it would be saved. But when S. Sophia was taken by the Turks a new era of suffering and crucifixion was before us. The Russians in the 18th and 19th centuries fought several times to liberate Eastern Christianity. Partially, they succeeded. Partially, the enslaved Christians themselves succeeded in freeing themselves. Their inspiration was S. Sophia. But in our days the liberation of us Slavs has been accomplished. Every corner, every inch, every person of the Slav lands is freed. But Redemption has not yet come to S. Sophia. While she is enslaved we cannot find ourselves, we are not yet free.
S. Sophia has also a symbolic meaning for us. It was completely destroyed twice, but rebuilt. As a mosque it is in its ashes. It must rise again from them. Its physical and moral body must be restored. They will be restored. Whether the Western Christians will restore it now we do not know. The peoples of the East are wondering why the Western people hesitate to liberate this symbol of our Christianity. Why do they hesitate? Why? Some people say that the Turks will blow it up sooner than see it redeemed from its degradation. Even if they do blow it up, it does not matter. They will not. But if they do, S. Sophia will rise again, and again be glorious. We are not asking the Moslems to give us their Mecca. We are simply asking them to restore our own Mother Church—in our heart and our soul.
The Turks understand this. They are fatalists, and they know it is by God’s will that their tyranny over the Christians is at an end. They know their power is lost. Though the British have achieved victory over Islam, not a single British citizen has ever asked that a Moslem holy place should be handed over to Christians. The Arabs are anxious to restore the Caliphate and are looking for a more central centre of Islam than Constantinople has been. You are giving them help. Then why do you not also help us who are your brothers? The greatest story in British history has been and is her work of freeing the Christians of the East. We ask you to crown it and to restore our Great Church to Eastern Christendom. It is our Sanctuary. It belongs to Christianity. What would be your feeling, supposing you had liberated England, Scotland, and Ireland, and St. Paul’s in London was still desecrated and usurped by your enemy?
S. Sophia is the most costly building in the world. It cost just upon three hundred million drachmas—or fifteen million pounds in your money—in the sixth century. By the values of to-day that means three hundred million pounds—and yet the Turks have got it in their hands! And they have never offered to pay for it!
I pray that England will become enlightened in time, and will realize the importance of that glorious monument of the Christian world. Do you not understand that the Redemption of S. Sophia will bring a new experience to all Christendom, will make reunion possible and will seal finally the freedom of the Eastern Christians?
You are the only people in the West to whom my people look seriously, because they know that you came many years ago to liberate them. Now they are patiently awaiting the final act of their freedom and God will help you to finish the work you have begun in the East, and listen to your prayers and deliver them.