Patriarch Kirill: A Threat to Hagia Sophia is a Threat to the Entire Christian Civilisation

Orthodox Times ^ | 7/6/20

[marshmallow]

In a “resounding” intervention with multidimensional nuances on the issue of Hagia Sophia, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow called not to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

In a statement, Patriarch Kirill stressed his deep concern over the calls of certain Turkish politicians to reconsider the status of Hagia Sophia as a museum, “one of the greatest monuments of Christian culture.”

He highlighted that there have been different, sometimes rather difficult periods in the history of relations between Rus’ and Constantinople. But “the Russian people responded in the past and respond now with bitterness and indignation to any attempt to degrade or trample upon the millennium-old spiritual heritage of the Church of Constantinople.”

His recent remarks on the relations between the two countries, Russia and Turkey, are noteworthy. He also highlighted that the relations between the two countries had been developing dynamically. However, one should take into account that “Russia is a country with the majority of the population professing Orthodoxy and so, what may happen to Hagia Sophia will inflict great pain on the Russian people.”

[EdgeOfDarkness]

I propose the following solution:

Trade the Haggia Sofia for the Dome of the Rock. Let Israel reclaim their synagogue and the Islamist’s can do whatever they want with the church/mosque in Turkey.

I know - not really apples for apples. If it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, there should be some serious consequences for making it a Mosque.

[Veto!]

I’ve been there. Beautiful place where you can see Christian paintings on the walls, though some were covered . I think they need to leave it as a museum. It’s one of their greatest tourist attractions.

I spent a week in Turkey in 1993 over Christmas vacation when both my kids were overseas. . More Christmas decorations up than in my stupid liberal town in WA. The Turks were really happy to see Americans, though they thought I was German because I was blonde. Many Turks went to Germany as “Guest Workers.” My German friend liked them. I did too.

Erdogan is an Islamist....an idiot wrecking the country by bringing in stupid veil-wearing Muslims from the countryside. In Istanbul, I rarely saw a burka. Pretty women, Western clothes.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Christian civilization? Saying stuff like that will get him arrested in California and several other states.

And besides, where is this Christian civilization of which he speaks?

[JoanSmith]

Whenever my liberal (Orthodox) dad talks about returning the sacred land of Mount Rushmore to the Indians, I ask him if he has the same conviction and righteous anger about returning Hagia Sophia to the Church.