[george76]

Hagia Sophia...a former Christian Church .

.

[george76]

" Hagia Sophia: built in 6th century as a church
converted to a mosque in 1453, a museum since 1935..."

[badpacifist]

Wonder how many e-mails I will get from my ultra-traditionalist friends on this one. Somebody better lock Mel Gibsons liquor cabinet also.

[Al Simmons]

Hagia Sophia - Perhaps THE GREATEST Christian Church ever built.....

[svxdave]

I'd rather it be a museun than a mosque.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

A Christian "centre" -- damn BEEB is so far gone it can't even bring itself to use the word "church".

[Senator Goldwater]

That's the one that's shown at the beginning of 'Midnight Express".

[rxgalfl]

Hagia Sophia...a former Christian Church .

Was that a statement or a question?

Ancient capital of the world, Rome, was conquered by Emperor Constantin and moved to Byzantine Constantinople around 300 AD. Because of this political and bureaucratic move, the Roman Imperial Archives were also moved there. In 1453 when the cruel Ottoman Emperor Mehmet (aka Muhammad) II invaded Constantinople, history talks about the Muslims burning the city almost to the ground, including the Imperial Archives, for over 3 days. The lack of information regarding the so-called "dark period" in Europe is directly linked with the historical disaster of Constantinople. Actually that "dark" period was by far so, it was actually a modern and ever growing civilization which was coming straight out Constantinople. The darkness simply comes from the ashes of what was left of the most imposing and long-living empire of all times, the Roman Empire. The cultural and historical loses as a result of the barbaric behavior of the Turkish and Mongolian herds (=Ottoman Empire), loses which are so priceless, they can be compared to the disaster of Alexandria in Egypt.

Simply put, the massacre committed by the Turks was terrible, the city was looted for days, St. Sophia church was transformed into a mosque. However, there were some churches which were not destroyed, Mohammad II thinking ahead into influencing Europe by enabling a Christian jurisdiction within the Ottoman Empire, it's first Patriarch being Scholrios (or something to that matter ). And so was the end of the mighty Byzantinian Empire, following over 1000 years of existence.

These people have not changed and the Pope keeps apologizing for a true statement. The Pope needs to remember that his duty is to serve God and His Son and not to make our faith a weak one. We get plenty of this from our spineless Democrat politicians.

[KellyAdmirer]

The Pope spent half an hour in Hagia Sophia, a domed complex that was once a Christian centre before becoming a mosque and eventually, a museum.

"A domed complex." "Once a Christian centre."

You've got to be kidding me.

[Mike Darancette]

Earlier, the Pope visited the nearby Hagia Sophia Museum - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism - drawing around 150 protesters.

I wonder what the Muslims will do with Notre Dame Cathedral? Or, maybe St Peters?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george. The original dome collapsed (I think it was) 13 years after the completion of the church, and was replaced with the one we see today. The current structure has withstood many earthquakes since. There's an anecdotal story about it, that when Justinian entered the completed church for the first time, he fell to his knees and said, "I have surpassed you, oh Solomon!"

[Valin]

It's been over 600 years now, you about ready to get over it? Reminds me of the Islamists ranting and raveing over the loss of Spain.

[goldstategop]

An Orthodox Church transformed into one of the wonders of the medieval world by the Roman Emperor Justinian I. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it became a mosque. In 1935, the Turkish Republic converted it to a museum.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Jimmy Valentine]

It is much more than that. The Hagia Sophia (Church of the Divine Wisdom)was built by Byzantine Emperors well over a thousand years ago.

It is the symbol and standard for both Greek and Russian Orthodox churches all over the world.

If you look around you see them everywhere; as an example in Washington, D.C. there is the church of St. Sophia on Massachusetts Ave. a detailed replica.

[Graymatter]

Hagia Sophia! Inspiration of Herbert Muller's "The Uses Of The Past," and that delightful, educational adventure game "Byzantine: The Betrayal."

[Mom MD]

Paul Harvey stated today that the pope prayed facing Mecca???

[mkjessup]

Hey, and let's not forget that the Pope was more than happy to bow down and pray in the direction of Mecca too with his Muslim hosts.

Hey, what's a few navigational adjustments in the interest of fostering Christian/Islamic "understanding"?

Oops, better make that ISLAMIC/'christian' "understanding".

Got it.