Orthodox Patriarch Opposes Plan to Make Hagia Sophia a Mosque

Catholic Culture ^ | 2/20/13

[marshmallow]

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has staked out his opposition to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Once the patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque when Muslims conquered the city. In 1935, Turkey’s government made the building a museum, as part of the secularizing campaign under the leadership of Kemal Ataturk.

Bartholomew I says Hagia Sophia should stay a museum (ANSAMed)

[ClearCase_guy]

I can’t be sure, but I bet the Muslims will not be too concerned with his opinion ...

[afraidfortherepublic]

I should hope so!

[The Great RJ]

Get used to it...I could see Notre Dame in Paris and St. Paul’s in London both becoming mosques in the near future.

[Verginius Rufus]

There is precedent. During the French Revolution, Catholic cathedrals in France were turned into Temples of Reason.

Reason...Unreason...What difference does it make, to quote the heiress-to-the-throne.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Since Erdogan(sp?) took over, 17,000 new mosques have been built, but no new schools.

[demshateGod]

I think he’s too late.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Its Orthodox Christianity, Not the limp wristed Roman Catholic Church of the west. These folks know Moslems up close and personal. Hagia Sophia will be a cathedral again! It will happen in our life times too. It will be the Vatican of the East, and many of the most fanatical of Islam will bow to the Love of Christ, or face his grace. Crusade Ten is on the way, and like the ones before, the Church of Christ will not start it—they will finish it.

[Cronos]

I pray that our Orthodox brethren can retake Hagia Sophia and we must help them, yet you forget that the Crusades were Western organized, funded and executed, by the same “limp wristed” Church (well, ok, the first one, then the rest were organized by Western kings) you denigrate