The Importance of Constantinople in the EO

It's a type of nostalgia that can be shared by those who do not have ties to Byzantium. Constantinople was the glory of civilization at one point, and even though our Kingdom is Heavenly, it was nice to know that it was a bastion of Orthodoxy.

I think the issue isn't so much the "divinity and glory" of Constantinople, but rather that it was the beauty of Orthodoxy revealed on earth (Just as we see in icons, and other beautiful temples). I think the same question can be ascribed to why the Orthodox Church puts so much effort into making beautiful temples when true Glory and Grace is beyond the earthly realm. It's simply that Constantinople was a city made glorified in splendour by Orthodox Christianity, and we are reminiscent of that time.

More important than the city of Constantinople would be the Hagia Sophia I think, which at one point was not just the glory of Orthodox Christianity, but of Christendom itself. In all honesty, the Byzantine Empire was bound to fall. Perhaps it was meant to be. But I'd have no issue with this if the Hagia Sophia, and Orthodoxy, was respected by the Ottomans. If Mehmet hadn't desecrated the Hagia Sophia, hadn't slaughtered everyone in there, and hadn't turned it into a Mosque, I would have nothing but the greatest of respect for the man, and would be happy to make peace with the fall of Byzantium.

I may joke about this, but in reality I think that reclaiming the city is nonsense. Bloodshed simply for the sake of taking back a city which had its glory days over a millennium ago? I would never condone such an action. All I'd like is for a chance to be able to pray and celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Hagia Sophia one day in my life.