In spite of tyranny and many clever plans made against it, the Christian faith continued to be openly professed in many parts of the Ottoman Empire. This survival was not only due to God’s providence, but also to certain strong customs within the churches, especially among the Greeks and Armenians.
It must be said that in some places the people had little religious education. The clergy were often poor, and many believers had few opportunities to hear sermons or receive proper teaching. Books were rare, and catechisms were not always available. Because of this, knowledge of doctrine was sometimes weak or confused Istanbul Old City Tours.
However, the strict observance of church feasts and fasts helped preserve their faith. The people carefully followed the religious calendar. They kept holy days, attended liturgies, and observed periods of fasting with seriousness and discipline. Through these outward ceremonies, they learned at least the basic ideas of their religion. Even if they did not fully understand every teaching, they remembered important events and truths through repeated practice.
Over time, when preaching and instruction became less common, these customs remained. Habit and tradition kept religious life alive. Though some services were neglected and knowledge was limited, devotion through ritual continued. In this way, the Christian communities of the Greek and Armenian Churches survived difficult times under Ottoman rule.
The Slave Trade from the Black Sea
The Ottomans also received a large supply of people from another source. From the region around the Black Sea, slave traders brought many captives into the empire. These captives were often taken by Tatar horsemen.
The Tatars, especially the Crimean Khanate, were known for their fast and light cavalry. They made sudden attacks into the lands of neighboring Christian territories. During these raids, they captured large numbers of men, women, and children. Sometimes whole towns were emptied of people.
Most of these captives were then sent to Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. There they were sold in slave markets. This trade became one of the main sources of wealth for the Tatar regions. It was an important and regular business, providing labor, soldiers, and servants for the empire.
A Harsh Reality
These practices show the difficult situation faced by many Christian communities. On one side, they struggled to preserve their faith with limited resources and education. On the other side, they faced raids, captivity, and forced displacement.
Yet even under such harsh conditions, many communities continued to exist. Their survival depended not on power or wealth, but on tradition, discipline, and a deep attachment to their religious identity.