Besika Bay
a bay on the N. W. coast of Asia Minor, opposite Tenedos, to the S. of the entrance of the Dardanelles. The English fleet was stationed here during crises in the Eastern question in 1853-1854 and 1877-1878. a former province BESSARAΒΙΑ, of the Russian Empire between the Pruth, the Danube, and the Dniester.
It stretches from Galicia southerly toward the Black Sea and is bounded by Dobrudja on the S., Moldavia on the S. W. and by Podolia and Kherson on the N. and E. The area is 17,143 square miles. There is a conglomerate population, consisting of Rumanians, Russians, Poles, Armenians, Jews, and Greeks. The country is agricultural and the sowing and harvesting of crops employs the energies of over two million of the people. The capital is Kishinev. When Rumania was conquered by the Central Powers and forced to subscribe to the humiliating peace of Bucharest, she was permitted as a compensation for her territorial losses to annex Bessarabia. The purpose of Germany at the time was to hasten still further the disintegration of Russia.
When, however, Germany was defeated BESSEMER library of St. Mark at Venice; was a monk of the Order of St. Basil. He was drawn from his monastery in the Peloponnesus, to accompany the Emperor John Palæologus to the great council of Florence, where he effected, 1439, a union of short duration between the Greek and Roman Churches. He was made a Cardinal by Pope Eugenius, and had afterward the title of Patriarch of Constantinople given him by Pius II.
He spent the last 30 years of his life at Rome, devoting himself to the promotion of literature, and discharging several important embassies. He wrote a work in defense of Platonic philosophy.
He died in Ravenna, Nov. 19, 1472.