Chapter 198 The church made a choice
This is a hall with exquisite icons and murals inlaid on the surrounding high stone walls.
In the center of the hall, there is a long wooden conference table, surrounded by bishops in black robes, with serious expressions, and heavy Bibles placed in front of each of them.
Sunlight shines through the stained glass windows, and colorful spots dance in the hall.
A total of 13 bishops, including Bishop Anthony, were waiting impatiently.
Many of them were still talking to each other in low voices.
Today is different from the past. Isaac's crazy behavior cannot be covered up.
The citizens and farmers at the bottom may not know what happened for a while, but the bishops present all understood what happened in the "Senate".
If Isaac is the supreme ruler of Cyprus, then the pillar of his rule is except for the strongest army.
It is the obedience of the "Senate" to him, and the support of the Church of Cyprus.
Now that all the nobles in the "Senate" have been slaughtered by Isaac, how can the bishops not be frightened and worry about dying?
Why not ask them, the bishops, to try to find a safer escape route for themselves?
Governance is an art. Most of the time, any country of a certain size will become more and more complex as its rule continues.
Since Cyprus has been ruled by Isaac for only three years, it is still in a rather rough adjustment period.
The traditional taxation system of the Eastern Empire was abolished by Isaac. The garrisons distributed across the island became his minions, and the so-called taxation turned into outright robbery.
But that doesn't mean that under Isaac's rule, there was a complete loss of order.
The "Senate" symbolizes the surrender of local forces to him, and the Cyprus Church still maintains normal operations, providing "Basilius" with services similar to a civil official position.
The church system had a profound impact on later political parties and bureaucracies.
Perhaps on a secular level, the ownership of land in different regions and countries can easily become confusing due to various historical entanglements and confusion at the administrative level.
But in the church system, it is actually relatively clear.
Taking the Church of Cyprus as an example, the Archbishop of Cyprus, or Patriarch of Cyprus, is the head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus.
Under the Church of Cyprus, in the 12th century, there were 14 dioceses or local churches, and the leaders of these local churches were bishops.
These 14 dioceses cover the entire island, and on average each parish governs about 10,000 people.
Under the diocese, there are also parishes, that is, with the church as the center, the influence of the church is radiated to the surroundings. The so-called priest or priest is qualified to preside over a church.
In each parish, there are roughly a thousand residents.
In this way, three levels were formed: the central church, local churches, and church agencies.
At the same time, the church system is not simply a bureaucratic bureaucracy, but has a certain democratic flavor.
The group of priests surrounds the bishop and forms a priesthood. They share different duties with each other and are the bishop's collaborators, assistants and tools.
The Cypriot bishops formed the "Holy Synod", which became the highest church authority in Cyprus. Its task is to review and resolve all issues related to the Cyprus church.
and is theoretically qualified to elect a new Archbishop of Cyprus.
Such an excellent bureaucratic system, combined with certain collective decision-making capabilities, has enabled the Cyprus Church to maintain a long-lasting and far-reaching secular influence.
So much so that even in the 20th century, the Church in Cyprus still carried the banner of anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, and striving for national liberation.
In later history, Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus led Cyprus to get rid of British colonial rule.
He served as the first president of Cyprus from 1960 to 1977, and even received the title of "Father of the Nation".
[Although the church has an excellent mechanism for democratically selecting its intellectuals, intellectuals are selected as individuals rather than as representatives of popular groups. 】
——"Prison Notes" by Antonio Gramsci
However, although these bishops here are qualified to elect a new archbishop from among them.
But in the face of Isaac's army, they could only accept a stranger to become the head of the Cyprus Church.
When the door of the conference hall was pushed open by the deacons, a middle-aged man in his forties walked in surrounded by a group of entourage.
Unlike all the bishops here, even the vast majority of bishops in the world.
Under the sacrificial robes, this middle-aged man was wearing a Tyrian purple robe that represented the imperial power of the Eastern Empire, and he was holding a royal scepter with a golden cross on the top.
These costumes with strong royal characteristics of the Eastern Empire are not the product of Isaac's transgression, but are the privileges obtained by the Church of Cyprus from Zeno, Emperor of the Eastern Empire in the 5th century.
It is proof of the privilege of the Church of Cyprus, founded by the Apostle Barnabas, independent of all other Patriarchs.
It can be said to be a glorious, glorious, sacred and ancient inheritance.
But now those sacred things of the past are clothed in the body of a tyrant's dog.
Archbishop Sophronios of Cyprus came to his bishop's throne. After handing the scepter to the deacon beside him, he immediately supported the table with his hands and looked down at all the bishops.
he shouted.
"Now! We have reached the most critical moment!"
"We, the Church of Cyprus, must carry forward our historical position and stand firmly and forcefully on the side of Holy Basilius!"
"We must act immediately! All rebels, rebels, and conspirators must be excommunicated and excommunicated immediately!"
"We must be serious and strict with those rioters! No mercy! Strike with an iron fist!"
In the Middle Ages, excommunication meant very serious consequences for civilians, involving personal religious life and social status.
Excommunication for the common man meant losing contact with the Church, enduring social ostracism, experiencing a crisis of faith, and under intense pressure to repent in order to restore relations.
Although there is no clear secular oppression, this is also the church expressing its attitude and forcing those who have not participated in the rebellion to choose sides.
Archbishop Sophronios spoke passionately, but none of the bishops in the audience responded and expressed active support.
Nowadays, the situation in Cyprus is uncertain. Do they, the bishops, continue to bet on Isaac?
Almost everyone present began to think that Isaac was a madman and an irredeemable villain.
In other words, Sophronius, as Isaac's dog, could only live in one way until his death.
Listening to all the nonsense Sophronius said on the stage, a young deacon behind Anthony came close to Anthony's ear and whispered a few words.
Then I saw Bishop Anthony knocking on the table several times, attracting the attention of everyone present, and interrupting Sofronios's speech.
"Sophronius, are you still stubborn?"
As soon as he opened his mouth, he was like a king. Anthony called Sophronius by his first name, and the tone he used showed no respect at all.
"What do you take Isaac's false emperor to be? The reflection of my lord on the ground? Or an idol?"
"I remember that you once declared to us that God came among us in a human form, saying that the human form was Isaac."
Anthony, who had a dangerous hairline, couldn't help but chuckle twice after saying this.
The other bishops around also had sneers on their faces. There was even a bishop who took out a Bible from the table and quickly turned to volume 14 from memory.
Sophronius looked a little confused. He couldn't understand why the bishops present showed such expressions. After all, he was ignorant and incompetent...
The bishops present are all natives of the island of Cyprus, and they know a lot about the history of the island.
The bishop who turned over the book, after finding the scripture he wanted, recited it loudly:
"Gentlemen, why do you do this? We are also humans, with the same nature as you. We preach the gospel to you so that you can turn away from these vain things and turn to the eternal God who created heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them."< br>
Listening to the voice of his colleague, Anthony continued to speak again: "We worship God in order to stay away from vanity."
"For us Christians, we should only obey the true God, God, and not submit to any idol or any Caesar in this world. For Christians, Caesar is only a powerful Caesar, not the sacred Lord of Heaven."
Anthony's speech attracted applause from others present, and many bishops began to applaud.
Even though Sophronius was uneducated, he could still tell the difference between each other's knowledge and realized that if he argued with Antony, he would definitely lose.
But fortunately, he was prepared.
"Olav!"
Along with a shout, there was a burst of heavy footsteps outside the conference hall, as well as the sound of a large number of chainmails colliding.
Just like what happened in the "Senate" before, more than twenty elite "Varangians" wearing chain mail filed in from the door behind Sophronius.
These bloodthirsty barbarians, holding shields and swords, took control of the entire place in just a few breaths.
Seeing this scene, many bishops looked panicked.
Seeing the gaffe of these people, Sophronius was satisfied.
Indeed, he is not very knowledgeable, or even uneducated. According to the normal church promotion process, it is unlikely that he will become a bishop in his lifetime.
But he can lick it! He is Isaac's loyal dog!
Unlike these wild dogs here, none of them even have an owner. When they encounter this kind of situation where they have to rely on the handle of a knife to speak, they are powerless.
However, just when the bishops panicked and were ready to beg for mercy.
Sophronius noticed Antony's look.
Anthony's face seemed to be smiling but not smiling, as if he was confident.
But, how could this happen?
Of course it would, for who allowed Sophronius alone to prepare in advance?
He, Anthony, had also already thought about how to deal with this scene. He did not want to be martyred like Barnabas, the native apostle saint on the island of Cyprus.
[The Jews out of jealousy captured Barnabas while he was preaching the word of God and dragged him to the synagogue. 】
[There they bound him and carried him to the outskirts of the city. 】
[After stoning him to death, they took his body to a nearby wood and burned it. 】
[However, John Mark, a disciple who followed Barnabas’ ministry, secretly recovered his body during the night and buried it in a cave. 】
——Chapter 11 of "The Acts of Barnabas" (an apocrypha of other Christian sects, and according to research, probably compiled by the Cyprus church itself)
——The Tomb of Barnabas on Cyprus
"Don't be stubborn, Sophronius."
The words that came out of Antony's mouth sounded incomprehensible to Sophronius. He was dressed in rich clothes and received the royal scepter from the attendant on the side. In this council hall, there were twenty armored "Varangis".
Obsessed?
Who is obsessing?
He is Isaac's crony, and as long as he is willing, the bishops in front of him can turn into corpses.
Sophronius became the only master in this small space.
This is authority!
"Sophronius, don't be stubborn."
Once again, another person gave this advice.
However, this time it was no longer any bishop, but the young man wearing deacon's clothes behind Anthony.
He faced Sophronius directly, and his simple clothes symbolized that he was the lowest member of the church.
There is a natural difference between him and the purple-robed Archbishop.
"You idolater and greedy person! You are in trouble! The Lord who sits on the throne has already spoken to me. He will give the spring of life to those who are thirsty!"
"But the cowardly, the abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—these were cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone."
"This is the second death!"
In this small room, there is not only the Lord who holds authority, but also the Lord who wants to sprinkle the spring water of life into the world.
The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of life and is incompatible with the kingdom of tyrants who oppress and kill people in this world.
The tyrant is a man-eating idol, and his priests and servants turn lives into sacrifices to intimidate others with their swords.
Sophronius felt baffled, but just as he would not argue with Antony, he would not talk too much nonsense with this inexplicable guy.
He made a gesture without mercy, meaning that Anthony and the young man would be executed.
Unlike Isaac, Sophronius did not intend to kill all the bishops. All he needed was to kill the chickens to scare the monkeys and completely control the Cyprus church to prepare for the subsequent counter-rebellion.
The blade was drawn out, but Anthony and the young man remained indifferent.
"Today's priests are no longer martyred. They have become accomplices of the Roman Caesar and betrayed the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Only when the sword that suppresses the poor also strikes the priest can it be shown that the faith of the church is not empty."
"The seeds of the gospel require the watering of the blood of priests and poor people before they can bear fruit."
"But, there is no need for the priest to bleed now."
"Today, only sinners will bleed here."
After the young man finished speaking, the world seemed to be silent for a moment, but it seemed as if nothing happened.
Then there was a clang, and a sword fell from the young man's hand to the ground.
Wait, sword?
When did that young man have a sword in his hand?
As far as the style is concerned, it is still a one-handed sword, a style commonly used only by "Varangi". Why is it in his hand?
The sword seemed to be stained with blood.
Sophronius' thoughts flashed through many things in this moment, and when he came back to his senses.
He felt that some warm liquid had been splashed on his face, and an unspeakable fishy smell rushed into his nose.
Immediately afterwards, almost everyone still alive in this council hall screamed loudly!
"Ah!!"
Sophronius turned his head and looked in the direction from which the liquid splashed.
Then he saw the "Varangi" next to him trying in vain to press his carotid artery with his hand.
Not just him, to be precise, there was a clang of shields and swords falling to the ground.
All the "Varangis" in the conference hall either breathed heavily and hoarsely, or knelt or lay on the ground, struggling to block the wounds on their necks.
But it was all in vain.
Sophronius looked up at the young man again. He didn't know what had just happened.
He only knew that at some point, the young man had a sword in his hand. The sword was stained with blood, and all the "Varangi" had cut their necks.
Sophronius staggered back a few steps, panicked, indescribable, indescribable...incomprehensible!
It all went beyond his sanity.
Subconsciously, Sophronius asked that question.
"Who are you?"
"Me? I am the Holy One of Jerusalem, and my name is Garis."
As the bishops and deacons fled in a hurry, the council hall was filled with the screams and groans before death, as well as the noise of others screaming
Garris approached Sophronius step by step.
"Despair and suffer, unless you can repent now. Otherwise, your soul is destined to fall into the eighth circle, which is the abyss of deceivers, and you will suffer forever."
"In the first circle, you will join the seducer, driven forward by the devil's whip, and the pain of the whip will be with you, just as ruthlessly as you once led others to fall."
"Then, you will fall into the second circle and be immersed in the stinking cesspool. Just as you used flattery to deceive others during your lifetime, now you will be struggling in this filth with nowhere to escape."
"In the third circle, sinners who corrupt the priesthood hang upside down in the fire, with their heads turned upside down and always looking behind them. It is your greed that abuses the priesthood."
"In the tar pool of the fourth circle, you will suffer with the briber and be repeatedly sunk into the sea of scalding oil by the devil."
"In the fifth circle of the perjurer, sinners are torn apart by demons and kill each other in a never-ending war because you harmed others with your lies and falsehoods in life."
"You will be in the sixth circle, wearing a heavy lead robe, bright on the outside but heavy on the inside, just like your hypocrisy in life; every step will make you miserable."
"The seventh circle is the bite of poisonous snakes and demons, which deforms your body. Because you steal the property of the poor and make sacrifices, you suffer endless pain."
"A bad debater will be enveloped and burned by fire in the eighth circle. This is when you used sophistry and words to mislead others."
"In the ninth circle, you will be cut and torn by the devil, and your soul will be torn apart forever."
"The abyss of hell is endless, and you will never be free. Every bit of pain is the result of your crime."
Garris's voice was very soft, but everyone else was impressed.
This is a declaration, a destined ending.
Sophronius waved the gilded scepter, trying to hit the approaching Garris.
However, in this bloody hall, Sophronius's resistance seemed particularly ridiculous.
The seemingly powerful and heavy blow had no effect when it hit Garris.
All the bishops saw that the scepter passed through Garris's body without causing any injuries.
Garris grabbed Sophronius' neck with his right hand and lifted him up.
Immediately afterwards, all the living people heard a crisp click.
Sophronius' cervical vertebrae were severed.
Garris threw the body aside, picked up the gorgeous scepter, and then came to the Archbishop's throne.
"Okay, now that Isaac's minions have been eliminated, we can talk about the future of Cyprus."
Bishop Anthony came silently behind Garris. Although he was wearing the black robe of a bishop, he was as humble as a waiter when he was next to Garris.
Just like Garris standing behind him before, now the status between the two seems to have been reversed.
Bang, the authority knocked on the ground, awakening those who were in panic.
"Everyone, sit back."
This is a hall with exquisite icons and murals inlaid on the surrounding high stone walls.
The long wooden conference table still stands in the center.
The air was filled with the strong smell of blood. Sophronius, whom many bishops were waiting for at first, had fallen to the side, staring at the empty dome with his eyes fixed.
The blood of sinners dyed this temple of holiness and faith red.
……
Cyprus is an island country, and Isaac is a single man. His rule over the island was already shaky the moment his military myth was torn away.
Not only farmers and citizens rebelled against Isaac, but also landowners and nobles.
In the original history, in 1191, Richard the Lionheart only led his army to land and occupied Lemesos, and the nobles here abandoned Isaac.
Isaac's rule over Cyprus is like a broken house that can collapse with just a kick!
From the time the "Senate" plotted against Isaac, he had been hostile to the island.
Even if he massacred all the senators who conspired to assassinate him, he would not be able to obtain the loyalty of any local forces in Cyprus.
The Cyprus Liberation Front is no longer the only organization resisting Isaac. Those insurgents are coming one after another and surging, igniting the fire of resistance everywhere on the island.
In just half a month, the mercenaries scattered outside encountered dozens of attacks.
All kinds of hidden arrows hurt people!
At this juncture, an insurgent army assembled through the Cyprus Church, organized by the Liberation Front, marched towards Isaac's palace.
All this madness is about to end.
I'm thinking of changing the cover and asking Lucy to come over and be the poster girl.
(Joan of Arc: So love will disappear?)
Two in one...Thank you all very much for watching.
(End of chapter)