Bartholomew kneels at Gate of Hatred to honor patriarch executed in 1821
An emotional memorial ceremony was held at the Fener Patriarchate in Istanbul on April 10 to commemorate Patriarch Gregory V, who was executed by the Ottoman authorities in 1821. The tribute took place in front of the locked iron gate known as the "Gate of Hatred" (Kin Kapısı), where Gregory was hanged on Easter Sunday, a moment still etched in the memory of Orthodox communities.
A somber atmosphere surrounded the ceremony, during which Patriarch Bartholomew and accompanying clergy prayed in silence. In his brief remarks, Bartholomew expressed wishes for the strengthening of the Holy Church’s mission, spiritual growth of the faithful worldwide, and peace and justice for those suffering from the ravages of war. The ceremony concluded with the chanting of Gregory V’s apolytikion, a traditional Orthodox hymn for saints.
EXECUTION DURING THE GREEK REVOLUTION
Gregory V was accused of supporting the Greek uprising that began in the Peloponnese in 1821. Although no direct evidence linked him to the revolt, the Ottoman authorities viewed him as one of its spiritual backers. On Easter morning, he was publicly executed at the gate of the Patriarchate, and his body was left hanging for three days as a warning.
According to historical accounts, members of the local Jewish community removed his body and cast it into the sea. It was later recovered and eventually interred at the New Church of the Patriarchate in Greece.
SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE “GATE OF HATRED”
The gate where Gregory was hanged has remained closed ever since, serving as a memorial and a symbol of mourning. It came to be known among Orthodox faithful as the “Gate of Hatred” (σταυρωτή πόρτα), a reference to the pain and injustice associated with the patriarch’s death.
Some nationalist circles in Greece and among the Orthodox diaspora claim that the gate will only be reopened when Istanbul returns to Greek—or Byzantine—control and becomes "Constantinople" once again. While this is not an official stance of the Patriarchate, the continued closure of the gate for over two centuries has imbued it with deep symbolic weight.
COMMENTARY | SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE CEREMONY
By honoring a patriarch executed for alleged ties to a rebellion against the Ottoman state, Patriarch Bartholomew not only remembered a historical figure but also delivered a message laden with symbolic resonance. As a Turkish citizen himself, Bartholomew’s public tribute to a man deemed a traitor by the empire’s former rulers underscores the complex relationship between memory, identity, and state.
The fact that such a ceremony was held within the borders of the modern Turkish Republic illustrates a notable example of tolerance and pluralism. In contrast, similar memorials for controversial figures would be unlikely to receive official approval in many Western countries. The event highlights Turkey’s often overlooked capacity for religious and historical tolerance in a politically sensitive context.
