Free Republic

“Fifteen centuries after its foundation, the magnificent Byzantine Church of Hagia Sophia still hides secrets whose discovery causes surprise and admiration.” Now, the oldest structure of the entire Hagia Sophia complex in Istanbul has been opened. The existence of the structure, a three-room catacomb dating to the 4th century, has been known since 1946, but only recently was the work of removing the tons of mud and sediment that engulfed the site completed, reports CNN Greece.

Increasingly, rumours are circulating about the future transformation of the Cathedral of Saint Sophia into a mosque. This is worrisome because two other temples, also dedicated to Saint Sophia, were recently transformed from museums into mosques. The two churches in question are Hagia Sophia in Nicaea (Iznik), where the first ecumenical council was held, and Hagia Sophia in Trebizond (Trabzon). For the record, with the fall of Constantinople (1453), all of the city's churches were converted into mosques, but with the advent of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the most important monuments were turned into museums.Skylife, the free magazine handed...

The Ecumenical Patriarch is opposed to the proposal of the Vice-President Bulent Arinc because there is "no need" for worship. Bartholomew is also supported by the head of the Muslim community, who points out the many mosques, which remain largely empty. Regarding minorities, the government is Turkish makes "one step forward, one step back." Anti-conformist sentiments on the up.Trabzon (AsiaNews) - There is "no need" to transform the ancient church of Aghia Sophia in Trabzon into a mosque, it is better that it remains a museum open to all religions: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, expressed with clarity his...