The service of the Akathist Hymn was celebrated yesterday in the churches of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as it was a Day of Mourning, announced by the Holy Eparchial Synod, due to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
Archbishop Elpidophoros officiated the Akathist Hymn at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. In his homily, he said, “These people will never triumph in the end. The stones of the Great Church would not lament. They would proclaim and sign with us the very hymn we chanted tonight, Τη υπερμαχω στρατηγω τα νικητηρια.”
“Our Hagia Sophia -and I say it agiaan– our Hagia Sophia, will always be the great church of christ.Our Hagia Sophia will always be the witness, the witness of the true orthodox faith, the true orthodox faith of Christ, throughout the Oikyomeni. Our Hagia Sophia remains unattached, unattached in heart, unattached in the soul, and unattached in divine purpose,” he added.
Archbishop Elpidophoros stressed on social media that “On the day of the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, we mourn not only for ourselves but for the whole world whose loss this is. We mourn for all people of every faith and every conscience, violated by this forced conversion.”
The Akathist Hymn in Honor of Hagia Sophia
Gepostet von Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America am Freitag, 24. Juli 2020
On the day of the re-conversion of #HagiaSophia into a mosque, we mourn not only for ourselves, but for the whole world whose loss this is. We mourn for all people of every faith and every conscience, violated by this forced conversion. pic.twitter.com/S5bay7N5VP
— Elpidophoros (@Elpidophoros) July 24, 2020
