Posted on 11/27/2015 6:54:47 AM PST by NRx
The State Duma deputies supported the idea of ​​return of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to the Orthodox Church. This was stated by Chairman of Committee on Property, coordinator of inter-factional parliamentary group on the protection of Christian values ​​Sergei Gavrilov, TSN reports.
Today, when the Russian-Turkish relations are undergoing “endurance trial,â€the mutual friendly initiatives and proposals are of special importance, Gavrilov says.
“The Russian side deems it possible to recur to the ancient shrine of the Christian world, located in Turkey, Istanbul - St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) of Constantinople –an ancient Byzantine cathedral, which is associated with the history of the Universal Christian Church. We expect a friendly step from the Turkish side - returning St Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople to the Christian Church,†the deputy said.
He added that Russia is ready to participate financially, and involve the best Russian restorers and scientistsin the restoration of the universal Christian monument.
“This step would help Turkey and Islam demonstrate that good will is above politics. Saint Sophia should be returned to Christians,†the parliamentarian said.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque. In 1935, Hagia Sophia acquired the status of museum. St Sophia Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List among theother monuments of Istanbul’s historic center in 1985.
Actually, until 1054 St. Peter’s Basilica was Orthodox.
“The papacy helped the EC get the use of its forcibly closed seminary back. That’s far more than the Russians (Orthodox Church clergy or Duma deputies) have accomplished.”
The “papacy” did what? Where did you get this nonsense? Halki is closed to this day! The Turkish dog Erdogan has proclaimed that it will only open when the grand mosque in Athens opens and the “call to prayer” is heard across the city!
If anyone can get Halki open, it will be the Russians...hopefully when they march through The City and celebrate the first Divine Liturgy in Agia Sophia since May 28, 1453!
Well, I guess there’s some truth to that. It had been Orthodox for several centuries when the Ottomans took it over but the first half of its existence was before the official split.
Now we’re talking.
The Islamic Radicals now in power in Ankara want these symbols of Christian heritage converted back into mosques or ripped down. Russia has many ways to undermine Turkey—some overt some secret. Putin has no scrupples about assassinations—and “wet work”. In the end —the Christians may well get their big Church back. The Kurds might even get their state after all too—as a satrap of the new Russian Empire.
Wow, touchy.
“If anyone can get Halki open, it will be the Russians...hopefully when they march through The City and celebrate the first Divine Liturgy in Agia Sophia since May 28, 1453!”
That won’t be happening either.
At the time of the Turkish conquest, the Greek and Roman churches had reunited (unfortunately, the reunion was a temporary one), so it was again de jure in communion with the Pope.
Do Putin and Erdogan want a war? The are acting like it.
That was supposed to have happened in 1915, dagnabbit. ("Winston Churchill, call your office. Winston Churchill ...)
But the Orthodox and the Catholic did not split until 1054. Until 1054 they were one Church.
“That was supposed to have happened in 1915, dagnabbit. (”Winston Churchill, call your office. Winston Churchill ...)”
A point which never ceased to irritate my Greek grandfather, a man who carried Hun lead from the Western Front in his body to the day he died.
“That won’t be happening either.”
Oh, I don’t know. You suppose that black dog Erdogan can learn to say “drone” in Russian?
Exactly.
I say we split Hagia Sophia down the middle, move one half to Rome, the other half to Moscow.
“Oh, I don’t know. You suppose that black dog Erdogan can learn to say “drone†in Russian?”
I have no idea, I just don’t think the Russians militarily can do all that much to Turkey without resorting to nukes. Ukraine is in the way. The Caucasus nations are in the way. The Black Sea - even with the Russian Black Sea fleet - is in the way. The Russians won’t be marching down Ä°stiklal Avenue any time soon.
Istanbul?! - Constantinople?!
That’s nobody’s business but the Turks!!
It’s too pretty to split. I say we put it on wheels and move it from city to city every fifty years.
bump
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