Introduction
James T. Palmer
In 557 the great imperial city of Constantinople was devastated by an earthquake. Here a founded two hundred years earlier to be truly Christian place, at time under dominance powerful and long-lived emperor Justinian I (r. 527–65). But, as monumental Hagia Sophia built partially collapsed, people panicked. Rumours circulated that world nearly its end self-proclaimed prophets caused terror preaching about worse things come. Had Christ himself not foretold earthquakes in Last Days (Matt. 24.7; Mark 13.8; Luke, 21.11)? Agathias, lawyer city, despaired how easily had been wound up such nonsense, which he found often accompanied these kinds disasters. He also noted reformed their lives: ‘suddenly all were honest business dealings, so even public officials, putting aside greed, dealt with lawsuits according law.’ Hymns sung, gifts given Church, lived better lives. The fear imminent judgement society – or least would have done, reverted old ways soon calmed down (Proverbs 26.11).
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