This may be related to https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-10/syriac-monastery-mor-efrem-reopening-assyrian-liturgy.html
Syriac monastery in Turkey reopens after 100 years
from October last year.
Granted, it is for the Syriac Catholic Church (which is a branch of the Oriental Syriac Church that came back in communion with the Catholic church.
I wonder what Erdogan is playing at.
“I wonder what Erdogan is playing at.”
Considering that the West is pretty much ‘post-Christian’ and much of it in Western Europe is in the process of converting to Islam, though not Poland and Hungary yet (but you guys will be hearing from the EU soon enough regarding your outdated position that Poland should stay Polish), it seems that the only Christianity that will be left in that part of the world will be run by Moscow, so why not take a few small steps to get on good terms with them?
Good point on Hagia Sophia, I had forgotten about that. If Turkey does close that now-mosque, that will be a major move, and likely infuriate Turks (which is why it would be a major move). We’ll see if anything happens there.