Episode 67

Setting foot in a place that could change history—or at least be remembered for generations—is enough to make anyone’s heart race.

I stood before the auxiliary palace where the meeting was to be held, accompanied by representatives of the Christian delegation. The auxiliary palace in Jerusalem, much like the main palace, wasn’t particularly grand. Yet, its weathered appearance and unadorned simplicity seemed fitting for a religious sanctuary.

Creak.

As we approached, the heavy doors swung open as if they had been waiting for us. The people following me moved forward with tense expressions, their steps slow and deliberate.

The meeting room was vast, easily accommodating hundreds. The sight of more theologians, bishops, and overseers than I had ever encountered in my life was truly a spectacle. Even a Catholic council alone would easily surpass hundreds of delegates. This time, with the participation of the Orthodox Church, Islam, and even Judaism, the scale was inevitably much larger.

“The representative from the Catholic side, please proceed to the head seat.”

Looking around, I saw three seats prepared at the head of the room, offering a view of the entire assembly. Traditionally, these seats were reserved for the Pope or Emperor who convened the council, but since this wasn’t a meeting for a single religion, the seating was distributed differently. Likely, the seats were for Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Islam, with Judaism excluded due to its lack of political power. The harsh logic of power applies even here. Neither the Catholics nor the Orthodox would accept a Jewish representative on equal footing. And the Islamic side certainly wouldn’t want a Jewish representative seated alongside theirs.

As I took my seat, the Patriarch of Constantinople followed and sat beside me. The scholars and bishops who accompanied us took their assigned places.

Thud, thud, thud.

With three drumbeats, the representatives from the Islamic side entered in a group. Following them, the Jewish rabbis and scholars lined up beside the Islamic delegation. This alone made it clear whose side the Jews were closer to.

Once everyone was seated, an attendant in elaborate attire announced in a booming voice, “Please welcome the host of this gathering, Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty, Caliph’s deputy, Al-Malik An-Nasir Abu Al-Muzaffar Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub ibn Shadi ibn Marwan al-Ayyubi.”

As the doors swung open and Saladin appeared, all attendees bowed. The Patriarch and I also rose from our seats, waiting for Saladin to ascend to the head seat. Standing there, he surveyed the assembly with satisfaction before beginning his speech in a resonant voice.

“Dear friends, I sincerely thank you for responding to my call. From nearby Jerusalem to distant Egypt and Khwarezm, and even our Christian guests from faraway Rome, you have all gathered here. Though much blood has been shed, the fact that we have this opportunity to converse is, I believe, evidence of our gradual progress.”

Fluent interpreters translated Saladin’s speech into various languages. Given the sensitivity of this gathering, multiple interpreters were employed to ensure no personal bias influenced the translations. Though it took more time, the demand for absolute objectivity made it a wise choice.

“May God bless everyone present here, and we thank Him for allowing us to convene this meeting.”

With Saladin’s speech concluded, Patriarch Georgios II naturally took the next turn. Since representatives from all religions were present, it was agreed that each would speak in turn.

“As the Sultan mentioned, the mere fact that we, with our differing beliefs, have gathered peacefully in one place makes today a monumental day in history. I pray that this meeting concludes peacefully and constructively, under God’s watchful eye.”

Saladin attended as the deputy of the Caliph, the highest authority in Islam. Patriarch Georgios II represented the Eastern Roman Emperor, the head of the Orthodox Church. I was here in place of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church.

As the last speaker, I stepped forward after Georgios II’s speech. Naturally, the representatives from Islam and Judaism didn’t look particularly pleased. Politicians may hide their swords behind smiles, but one can’t expect such diplomacy from scholars.

“I am Edward Marshall, attending as the representative of His Holiness Celestine III, Count of Auvergne and head of the Catholic Church. As Patriarch Georgios II mentioned, I hope for a constructive and peaceful discussion. Our God desires peace above all and wishes to extend love and tolerance.”

Both Christianity and Islam have teachings that emphasize loving one’s neighbor and showing kindness. Islam, for instance, has a tradition of offering meals to guests, rooted in such teachings. However, these teachings often don’t extend to other religions, an unspoken rule. Recently, even within the same religion, factions have fought bitterly, and those critical of religious leaders face immediate retribution. Christianity is no different. Many argue that the phrase “All are equal before God” applies only to fellow Christians. This is, of course, a pretext for treating non-believers as inferiors. Both sides are slowly but surely distancing themselves from love and tolerance, rotting from within.

Those who understood my final words as a critique of this state of affairs subtly adjusted their postures.

With the representatives’ speeches concluded, the meeting officially began. The first agenda item was the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Perhaps because it was the first topic, it was relatively light. Some councils end quickly, but others drag on for years. Given the diverse religious representation at this Jerusalem council, everyone knew it wouldn’t conclude in a single day. Thus, the initial exchanges seemed intended to gauge the atmosphere.

An elderly Jewish rabbi stepped forward to speak first.

“I am Maimonides, honored to attend as one of the representatives of Judaism. I believe it’s wise to avoid contentious topics at the outset and instead discuss matters where we can reach amicable agreement. I thank you all for accepting this agenda.”

Historically, the Islamic side didn’t interfere with Christian pilgrimages to holy sites. However, conflicts inevitably arose, and after the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, tensions peaked. The Crusaders firmly opposed Muslims visiting Jerusalem, and in retaliation, the Islamic side began persecuting Christian pilgrims. Caught in the middle, the Jews suffered from both sides. While Saladin didn’t persecute Jews, they couldn’t practice their faith freely.

“For religious people, visiting holy sites and feeling the divine presence is paramount. Therefore, those visiting for pure pilgrimage should not be entangled in any conflicts or persecuted. This aligns with the teachings of all religions and should be encouraged.”

Maimonides paused to catch his breath. In the brief silence, Robert, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar and a Catholic representative, added a succinct opinion.

“I agree that visiting holy sites to worship God is a duty for devout believers. Hindering this is not only an affront to the pilgrims but also to the deity they worship.”

The Jewish representatives were visibly surprised that the Catholic side was the first to agree. One rabbi, incredulous, asked, “Pardon me, but weren’t the Templars the ones most opposed to other religions making pilgrimages?”

“That’s correct. I acknowledge it.”

“Does that mean you’re admitting that the Catholics have insulted God in the past?”

The Jewish and Islamic sides smiled, thinking things were going smoothly, but this was all part of the plan. It had been discussed with me beforehand. Grand Master Robert shook his head and replied in a deep voice.

“At the time, it seemed the best course of action. We believed that not opening Jerusalem to other religions was in line with our doctrine. So, it should be seen as a tragedy rather than a mistake.”

“Isn’t that a tragedy of your own making?”

“No. There is a clear reason for this. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all share one commandment: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’”

As Robert continued without hesitation, Saladin, seated at the head, was the first to react. With a voice only I could hear, he whispered with interest, “Starting boldly, aren’t we? Is this part of your plan too?”

“It’s the most pressing issue to resolve.”

Initially, even the Christian representatives were hesitant, but it was clear that without resolving this issue, the council would end up being incomplete. To be precise, no discussion could even begin. Eventually, everyone agreed with my perspective, and our primary strategy was to bring this topic to the forefront as soon as possible.

Robert stepped forward, scanning the room before speaking. “In Christianity, many believe that God is not the same as the deity in Judaism or Islam. While most acknowledge the Jewish God, opinions diverge when it comes to Islam. If that’s the case, how can we allow those who worship idols to access the holy sites?”

“Idols? How dare you!” The Islamic scholars bristled at the remark, prompting Robert to quickly raise his hand to calm them. “Please, let’s remain calm. I’m merely pointing out that during the Crusades, many voiced such opinions. The lack of a clear resolution on this matter is what continues to cause friction. Let’s settle it here and now.”

The Islamic representatives, finally grasping Robert’s intent, nodded in agreement. In contrast, the Jewish delegates appeared somewhat troubled.

“Hold on, that’s…”

“Such sensitive issues should be addressed later…”

The most exclusive and conservative among the Jewish representatives likely wished this topic would never be broached, but that was not going to happen. Ignoring their objections, Robert boldly addressed the most sensitive and fundamental question.

“We must definitively establish whether the Yahweh of Judaism, the God of Christianity, and the Allah of Islam refer to the same deity!”

Leaning back in my chair, I surveyed the faces of the Jewish rabbis, which were growing increasingly sour. Why the long faces? Lighten up a little.