The restored house of Dimitrie Cantemir who, in the late 17th century, managed to foil a plan by Grand Vizier Ali Köprülü to convert the Mouchliotissa into a mosque. The house is immediately downhill from the church. Dimitrie Cantemir was educated in the Phanar Greek Orthodox College whose current premises (built in the 19th century after Cantemir’s time) can be seen at the top left of the picture. Cantemir went on to rule Moldavia, lose a battle against the Ottomans in the Russo-Turkic War, and become one of the great intellectuals of 18th century Europe. His offspring later spread havoc through the royal court of Russia. Not a life readily to be emulated these days.
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