The Greek Paleologus in Barbados, Caribbean
- Published in History
The tomb of Ferdinando Paleologus, descendant of the brother of the great Byzantine Emperor Constantine Paleologus XI
American tourists to the Caribbean are amazed by the Greek influence. A subjugated people, without a country, the Greek culture made its mark in the new world.
Greek mariners, with Hispanic names navigated the waters. But, the Greek language also made its mark on the Caribbean.
“The word faros in Spanish comes from the Greek language, said the park ranger at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) in Puerto Rico. “It means light house. What did the Greeks not invent? The first lighthouse was the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven marvels of the ancient world, before the famed lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt.” This revelation was part of a free tour of El Morro, the 16th century citadel, conducted in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoons, a free trip of the lighthouse is offered in El Morro castle to the public.
El Moro was built on the northwestern point of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in honor of king PhilipII of Spain in 1539. The lighthouse was built on top of the Castillo in 1843. In 1908, the U.S. military replaced it with the current lighthouse. The original lighthouse was destroyed by US warship fire during the 1898 bombardment of the city. In 1983, El Moro was declared a World Heritage site. El Morro was a Spanish defensive military fortification that protected Puerto Rico, “the Key to the Antilles”.
St John’s Parish Church a very well known church in Barbados where Ferdinando Paleologus was buried,
The Paleologos family of Byzantium left its imprint in Barbados. According to the Cemetery and Memorial Parks website of Barbados, “One intriguing feature of the St John’s Parish Church Cemetery is probably found outside in the graveyard where the tomb of Ferdinando Paleologus (son of Theodore) rests. Paleologus was a descendant of the brother of the great Emperor Constantine XI, the last of the Byzantine Imperial family from the 1400’s that produced the last Christian emperors of Greece. He fled to Barbados after the 1645 Battle of Naseby in England….. He was a church warden of St. John’s Parish having lived there for 20 years where he owned a 197-acre plantation. He managed it from 1649 to 1670 and later died there in 1678. When Paleologus died, he was naturally buried in the St John’s Parish Church, since he had been a prominent person in that community. He left behind a legacy of mystery which until 1844 was buried at St John’s. It was said that he was buried ‘backways’. The rumors persisted until nearly 200 years later in 1844 when a curious church official ordered the vault opened.”
“Paleologus lead coffin was found to have been in a different position to all the others. As the lid was opened, his skeleton was found lodged in quicklime. He had been buried according to Greek Orthodox traditions, which amongst other things, demanded that the dead person’s head should point to the west and their feet to the east. The dignified memorial, wrought in Portland stone portrays a Greek temple with Doric columns surrounding the cross of Constantine carved in the center. The following inscription may still be read:
Here lyeth ye body of Ferdinando Paleologus Descended from ye imperial lyne Of ye last Christian Emperors of Greece Churchwarden of this Parish 1655-1656 Vestryman, Twentye years Died Oct. 3 1678
The estate of Ferdinando still survives today (2005) as a working farm now called the “Ashford Plantation”. Inevitably becoming a tourist attraction, since in the 1980s, when the Ashford Bird Park and animal sanctuary were opened there.” Greek language and culture is a treasure belonging to the international community.
St John’s Parish Church
The tomb of Ferdinando Paleologus in St. Johns Parish Church courtyard in Barbados, Caribbean
Not only is St John’s Parish Church a very well known church, but it is also very beautiful and set in a spectacular location on a cliff overlooking the east coast of Barbados.
A church was first built on the site in 1645, but the existing structure was built in 1836 after previous buildings were destroyed by fire or hurricane. The graveyard holds some interesting headstones, both of well known local families dating back hundreds of years, and also of famous people, including Ferdinando Paleologus who was a descendant of Constantine Paleologus, last emperor of the Byzantium. Paleologus was a planter and church warden on the island until his death in 1670, at which time he was buried under the choir in the Greek fashion of having his head pointing west. In 1831 he was reburied in his present location in the churchyard.
Source:qgazette
