DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**Vobomei** · 11-16-2007, 01:59 PM

Forgive these silly question, but I don't know much about Constantinople, and even less about how the ancient patriarchates came to their influence.

First, are there any Christians left in Constantinople (Istanbul)? And what about in Antioch and Jerusalem and the other patriarchates? I mean, how many Christians actually live in these places? A few thousand? (I read on Wikipedia that there are only 123 active churches in Istanbul, and 14,000 "Christians" in Jerusalem. For comparison's sake, Tyler, TX has 156 Baptist churches (not to mention dozens of others), and a single church in Dallas, TX has in excess of 20,000 people).

Second, I think I read somewhere that the ancient patriarchates came to their positions of influence because the cities they were located in were once upon a time major centers of economic and political power. But if these same cities have become more or less insignificant, and there are few or no Christians currently living in them, should the patriarchates be moved someplace else?

-Shawn

11-16-2007, 01:59 PM	#24
Vobomei Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 489 Senior Member	Forgive these silly question, but I don't know much about Constantinople, and even less about how the ancient patriarchates came to their influence. First, are there any Christians left in Constantinople (Istanbul)? And what about in Antioch and Jerusalem and the other patriarchates? I mean, how many Christians actually live in these places? A few thousand? (I read on Wikipedia that there are only 123 active churches in Istanbul, and 14,000 "Christians" in Jerusalem. For comparison's sake, Tyler, TX has 156 Baptist churches (not to mention dozens of others), and a single church in Dallas, TX has in excess of 20,000 people). Second, I think I read somewhere that the ancient patriarchates came to their positions of influence because the cities they were located in were once upon a time major centers of economic and political power. But if these same cities have become more or less insignificant, and there are few or no Christians currently living in them, should the patriarchates be moved someplace else? -Shawn
	Quote