Posted on 06/22/2020 6:04:17 PM PDT by marshmallow
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has again upset the Christian world with his plans to reconvert the world-famous Agia Sophia in Istanbul, currently functioning as a museum, back into a mosque.
Agia Sophia was built in the 6th century as an Orthodox Christian cathedral and served in the capacity until the fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman invaders in 1453, after which it was converted into a mosque. A 1934 presidential decree secularized the building and turned it into a state museum.
But now, on July 2, the State Council of Turkey will review the possibility of changing the status from a museum back into a mosque, thus canceling the 1934 decree. Erdoğan has also announced that he intends to hold Islamic prayers in Agia Sophia on July 15, and surveys have been produced claiming the majority of Turkish citizens favor the initiative.
The conversion process is reportedly already underway, despite protests coming from the Greek and American governments.
Against this background, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, known as the Archons of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, have appealed to President Trump to prevent the Turkish government from going through with its plans.
As a museum, Agia Sophia serves as “a monument of the human spirit and a living symbol of respect for all faiths,” and Turkey must “affirm its commitment to religious freedom and discard all plans to change the status of the Hagia Sophia,” writes Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, the National Commander of the Archons, in his letter to President Trump, published on the official Archons website.
The letter, dated June 17, reads in full:
Dear Mr. President:
An early July court hearing in Turkey will likely declare that the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul should be converted to a mosque. The Order......
(Excerpt) Read more at orthochristian.com ...
The sewer of Hagia Sophia is more impressive than 90% of the mosques built by the moslems.
I suppose we could report this to 1-800-UN-CARES
Our tax $$$ pay for a UN committee on cultural preservation.
Oh. Never mind...not OUR culture!
I wonder if he also appealed to Putin, who seems to respect the Orthodox Church.
Turkey will respect Russian wishes. Over the Centuries Russia and Turkey have fought 10 wars. Russia won 9 of them. In One the victory was lead by Admiral John Paul Jones fighting for Russia.
As an American *and* an Orthodox Christian I surely do have a dog in the fight. That building was built as and ought to be a Christian cathedral!
If christendom wishes it remain museum or revert back to church it must convince Erdagon, pay his tribute or take it back.
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