• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Orthodox Times
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Orthodox Times
No Result
View All Result
Home Orthodoxy Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarch: If Hagia Sophia becomes a mosque, millions of Christians will turn against Islam (upd)

Jun 30, 2020 | 13:35
in Ecumenical Patriarchate, FrontPage
The Ecumenical Patriarch departed for his birthplace

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

LAST UPDATE: 14:59

On Tuesday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a message to Turkey that any conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque “will turn millions of Christians around the world against Islam.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch, in his sermon after the Divine Liturgy at the celebrating Holy Temple of the Holy Apostles in Feriköy, referred to the issue of the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

“Hagia Sophia belongs not only to those who own the monument, but also to all of humanity. And the Turkish people have a responsibility to highlight this universality of the monument,” he underlined, among other things, during today’s Divine Liturgy at the Holy Temple of the Holy Apostles in Feriköy.

Gepostet von Ecumenical Patriarchate am Montag, 29. Juni 2020

“As museum, Hagia Sophia can function as place and symbol of encounter, dialogue and peaceful coexistence of peoples and cultures, mutual understanding and solidarity between Christianity and Islam,” the Ecumenical Patriarch also stressed.

He estimated that “any conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque will turn millions of Christians around the world against Islam.”

“Hagia Sophia is a vital center center where East is embraced with the West,” he said, stressing the need for unity and common orientation.

Read Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s statement:

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew about Hagia Sophia
[Church of 12 Apostles at Feriköy, June 30, 2020]

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is a widely discussed topic. In the context of the various discussions that have taken place about this subject, our Modesty has repeatedly expressed the position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its spiritual children all over the world. In 2016, we even sent a Letter to the then Director of Religious Affairs, Prof. Mehmet Görmez, to whom we expressed our concern for the proposed alteration of the status of Hagia Sophia and we underlined that this unique monument obtained sacred value for both monotheistic religions, because it had served as a place of the worship of God for 900 years for the Christians and for 500 years for the Muslims. We concluded that Letter by saying that we consider as detrimental, Hagia Sophia, which, due to its dedication to the Wisdom of God is a point of encounter and a source of fascination for the faithful of both religions, to become, in the 21st century, a cause of confrontation and conflict.

The temple of the Wisdom of God is undoubtedly one of the most significant classic monuments of the universal civilization. “Classic” is that which always transcends the boundaries of the people and the time of its creation and that which does not belong only to its possessor, but to the whole humanity. In this sense, the Turkish people has the great responsibility and the highest honor to give prominence to the universality of this exquisite monument. As museum, Hagia Sophia can function as place and symbol of encounter, dialogue and peaceful coexistence of peoples and cultures, mutual understanding and solidarity between Christianity and Islam, which is extremely vital and beneficial for the contemporary world.

During these days of the heated discussions about this topic, a notable Turkish journalist wrote that whilst the return of Hagia Sophia to the worship of God is requested, it seems that the youth is turned more intensively towards arts and culture. Shouldn’t this turn of the youth be an issue of concern for all of us? Shouldn’t we also turn toward the common principles, toward the ideals that unite the youth of both religions, an initiative that would safeguard a better future for mankind, instead of highlighting and bringing back to the forefront issues that cause divisions and tensions? The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque will disappoint millions of Christians around the world, and Hagia Sophia, which, due to its sacredness, is a vital center where East is embraced with the West, will fracture these two worlds, more so at a time when the afflicted and suffered mankind, due to the deadly pandemic of the new coronavirus, is in need of unity and common orientation.

Tags: Ecumenical PatriachateHagia Sophia

Related Posts

Ecumenical Patriarchate is satisfied with first decisions made by new US President
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarchate is satisfied with first decisions made by new US President

January 21, 2021
Memory of Holy Hierarchs Gregory the Theologian and Ioannis Chrysostomos to be celebrated at the Phanar
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Memory of Holy Hierarchs Gregory the Theologian and Ioannis Chrysostomos to be celebrated at the Phanar

January 20, 2021
The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Selyvria celebrated the Holy Epiphany
Ecumenical Patriarchate

The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Selyvria celebrated the Holy Epiphany

January 20, 2021
The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Smyrna celebrated the Holy Epiphany
Ecumenical Patriarchate

The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Smyrna celebrated the Holy Epiphany

January 19, 2021
The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Constantinople celebrated the Holy Epiphany
Ecumenical Patriarchate

The Slavic-speaking Orthodox of Constantinople celebrated the Holy Epiphany

January 19, 2021
Metropolitan of Kallioupolis, new bishop in charge of Tatavla District in Feriköy
Ecumenical Patriarchate

Metropolitan of Kallioupolis, new bishop in charge of Tatavla District in Feriköy

January 15, 2021
Next Post
Serbian Patriarch receives Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands

Serbian Patriarch receives Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands

Latest News

The Great Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord in Clearwater, Florida

The Great Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord in Clearwater, Florida

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 19:44
0

The culmination of the four-day celebration was the Great Feast of Epiphany itself, which was celebrated in the Church...

Online event on “Theology & Medicine” by Cemes

Online event on “Theology & Medicine” by Cemes

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 18:45
0

CEMES is inviting you to a webinar public debate among professional academics to reflect on the epistemological connection and...

The famous Catholic bishop and friend of the Serbian people Hans Gerny reposed in the Lord

The famous Catholic bishop and friend of the Serbian people Hans Gerny reposed in the Lord

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 17:54
0

The Old Catholic Church mourns its very deserving and dedicated pastor, who even after his retirement took an active...

Locum Tenens of the Patriarchate of Serbia receives Ambassador of the Russian Federation

Locum Tenens of the Patriarchate of Serbia receives Ambassador of the Russian Federation

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 17:00
0

Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, the Locum Tenens of the Throne of Serbian Patriarchs received Botsan Harchenko, the Ambassador of...

Ecumenical Patriarch celebrated Vespers in the Phanar (Video)

Ecumenical Patriarch celebrated Vespers in the Phanar (Video)

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 16:10
0

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Great Vespers on the eve of the feast of the Translation of the...

Saint Sava’s Academy in Nis

Saint Sava’s Academy in Nis

by NewsRoom
Jan 26, 2021 | 15:50
0

The academy in honor of Saint Sava, prince, monk, writer, diplomat and the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

  • Orthodoxy
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • History
  • Press Releases

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

© 2021 OrthodoxTimes.com
digital world media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions

© 2020 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary
Always Enabled