Posted on 09/01/2012 11:49:37 AM PDT by annalex
Strange and inexplicable event comes after the last appearance of winged angels. A paradox for those of us who do not possess the art of iconography is that the mosaics were covered with a thick layer of lime (about two fingers), as seen in this picture, in order to hide the Christian symbols. It is onto the lime cover that these crosses appeared.
And rightfully should the visitors wonder, since they are not painted later. Somehow they "seeped" from the wall up to the outer surface of plaster?
And why should only the crosses seep through and not the rest of the iconographic murals, which are also in a mosaic form (that would exclude a "random" impregnation, since the coated material is stone)? But even if they were frescoes covered with plaster, is a very strange fact that they are NOT visible to the naked eye, yet are captured in the camera lens! Then we have a paradox, perhaps it should be investigated ...
An iconogrpaher, who has worked in mosaic, said:
"Understand, we are talking about an inert material such as stone (as are the mosaics). It is impossible to transfer color through chemical reactions in fresh plaster (not only mixed mortar) to reflect ... the cruciform".
The crosses as everyone can see are Orthodox (isosceles) Byzantine and a contemporary phenomenon (the last few months ...). Regarding the explanation that possibly a metal cross was oxidized, the iconographer said: "As you know, when iron is combined with the passage of years the weather causes oxidation and red rust spreads like cancer. So never anyone would put materials from iron a in his masterpiece, never ... Besides, imagine that, the whole churches and other architectural buildings in the entire Byzantine period were build from pieces of ceramics, lime, river sand, gravel and endless eggs!!.
Fresco (technique of Byzantine wall painting) consists of lime paste made from stone, river sand, and marble in three layers (black fresco, yellow fresco and white fresco) and on top pf that grounding the paintings are made. The powder paint mingles with water only and nothing else, because the material stuck on the wall is lime. The lime comes mixed with the water from the plaster, is applied to the surface (over time) and reacting with the carbon dioxide from the air again becomes limestone. So, during drying the wall emerges from the plaster and the colors harden, and the colors will remain captured in the limestone forever. These technique were explained to us by the assistant professor at the Theological Faculty in Bucharest, Romania Mihai Coman.
It is worth considering the fact that the crosses are not balanced with the other (obviously, more recent) Islamic shapes. This non-symmetry proves that the crosses have nothing to do with the subsequent decoration of the church. No iconographer, no artist would violate the logic of aesthetics, even more so in the case of the church of Hagia Sophia, which was (and still is) a real jewel in the arts and architecture.
How to explain that the crosses are everywhere inside the Hagia Sophia and specifically on the four arches? Some speak of a miracle ... (In the right picture you can see the fairly large thickness of the plaster, which the Turks put on over centuries, in order to conceal with absolute certainty the iconography and the mosaics of the Church of Holy Wisdom).
At the end of July 2009, to light came the scene of an Angel, which was covered for six centuries by the obscurers of Hagia Sophia. The Turkish restorer Ahmet Biltili, said that their goal now is to bring to the surface also the second angel, dating from the Byzantine Empire.
The mosaics were covered shortly after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, and the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque. The Turks, instead of moving the unique beauty of mosaics of Hagia Sofia, covered them with metal and plaster (how admirable is the culture of Turkey!)
Following the first discovery, a great historical revelation comes to light after centuries of "darkness". This time four angels painted on mosaics were hidden for years, known to the Turkish authorities, under many layers of lime and obscured by four huge shield on four pillars supporting the dome of Hagia Sophia.
The four angels, each of whom has six wings, were created between AD 900 - 1300 Indeed, in mid-1800, the Italian architect Fossati, saw them doing repairs in the temple. The order to cover art with lime was given by the sultan Abdulmecit. Later, they placed over the shield, inscribed with Arabic prayers.
However, in the fullness of the time the four unique murals will come to light again, giving us a glimpse of the timeless art of our ancestors.
Translation, with the aid of Google, mine. -- A-x
Ping?
Fascinating
![](http://oi49.tinypic.com/34sgtq1.jpg")
“And I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth...”
Revelation 7:1
Fascinating.
bumping for later.
One day that will be a church again, and the city will be known by its proper name, Constantinople.
Some say Constantinople could be considered to have fallen at the point the soldiers of Mehmed II entered the Hagia Sophia
Legend has it that the priests saying mass at the time the massive doors were battered down simply melted into the walls, and will return to finish their mass when the Hagia Sophia is again a Christian Church.
I am sure hoping that will happen in my lifetime. I looked through my other images and don’t seem to have this exact location (it is so big). I do have several of the major dome, but I only had my smart phone camera and it’s a long way up. I remember having such a sad feeling that mass is no longer given there.
Don’t you mean Byzantium?
Amazing. May the restorers succeed at removing the limestone to let the real art show through.
This will be one to watch.
Someday Russian Christians will take Constantinople and restore this great church for the greater glory of God the Father,God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. On that day, I pray the followers of Allah will toss away their prayer rugs and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. I pray that I shall live to see that day.
It is Christ Who will finish the Mass, He Who starts every Mass. The priest are the finger and the tongue, and yes, they will be back.
Byzantium is the empire and Constantinople is its capital city.
“Istanbul” is how the Turks heard the phrase, “eis ten Poli”, “in the city”. It is not even a proper name, just a geographical fiction.
---
(*) Antony C. Sutton.
Ah, no. Byzantium is the Latin version of the Greek Byzantion, a city named after King Byzas. Constantine remaned the city Nova Roma, but it was popularly called Constantinople. You are however correct about the etymology of Istanbul.
OK, still before it was destroyed by the Seljuks, it was Byzantine Empire with Constantinople the capital of it. Most cities and countries have a history of names, but justice called for the restoration of names and conditions of that which was subdued and destroyed by force.
If instead it should be restored as Byzantium, that would be fine by me, but it probably will take up the name it last had.
Today "The City" refers only to Manhattan ~
Well, it WAS a Church!!! When I saw it last year, I was SHOCKED that the Muslims hadn’t painted over everything!!
Whoops, thanks annalex!
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