Last Day in Cappadocia

This was my last day here in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Sunday and all, this morning we still had four lectures. One lecture was given by Prof. Manns on St John's use of the Old Testament. A very learned lecture which helped us appreciate more the Targum, the version of the Hebrew Bible that Jews use in the synagogue. The second lecture was by Prof. Brodeur continuing the exegesis of Gal 4. Today we did verse 4: a truly marvellous way how to enter deeper into the text of Sacred Scripture. The last two lectures were given by Prof. Uggeri on a number of ancient cities, among which I can mention Antioch of Syria and the port of Seleucia.

This afternoon then we continued to visit a number of monasteries and country churches. Beautiful manifestations of the faith. Unfortunately, most of these, some of which have splendid frescoes, are left to deteriorate with no one taking care of them. And this is a clear decision taken to put the Christian tradition of this country into oblivion as quickly as possible.

We visited also an underground city (Seratli Belediyesi) which the local populations used during some attack by enemies. It is similar to our wartime shelters.

The guide, a Capuchin friar, read to us a beautiful selection from a speech by St Gregory Nazianzen, a Cappadocian Father, when he resigned his post as Patriarch of Constantinople in 381. In this Oration 42, paragraph 24 he becomes quite sarcastical as to the ministry of the Bishop (by inference also of the priest)! Those who would like to read the entire oration may find it here: Oration 42 by St Gregory Nazianzen

Here is the text of paragraph :

24. Perhaps we may be reproached, as we have been before, with the exquisite character of our table, the splendour of our apparel, the officers who precede us, our haughtiness to those who meet us. I was not aware that we ought to rival the consuls, the governors, the most illustrious generals, who have no opportunity of lavishing their incomes; or that our belly ought to hunger for the enjoyment of the goods of the poor, and to expend their necessaries on superfluities, and belch forth over the altars. I did not know that we ought to ride on splendid horses, and drive in magnificent carriages, and be preceded by a procession and surrounded by applause, and have everyone make way for us, as if we were wild beasts, and open out a passage so that our approach might be seen afar. If these sufferings have been endured, they have now passed away: Forgive me this wrong. 2 Corinthians 12:13 Elect another who will please the majority: and give me my desert, my country life, and my God, Whom alone I may have to please, and shall please by my simple life. It is a painful thing to be deprived of speeches and conferences, and public gatherings, and applause like that which now lends wings to my thoughts, and relatives, and friends and honours, and the beauty and grandeur of the city, and its brilliancy which dazzles those who look at the surface without investigating the inner nature of things; but yet not so painful as being clamoured against and besmirched amid public disturbances and agitations, which trim their sails to the popular breeze. For they seek not for priests, but for orators, not for stewards of souls, but for treasurers of money, not for pure offerers of the sacrifice, but for powerful patrons. I will say a word in their defence: we have thus trained them, by becoming all things to all men, 1 Corinthians 9:22 whether to save or destroy all, I know not.

A rural church in Serime. Note the dire need for restoration ... but no one really cares!