The head of the Greek delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (IAO), Maximos Charakopoulos, said that the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque was “an act that tramples underfoot every moral value, every due respect to a recognized world cultural heritage monument, a timeless symbol of Christianity and Orthodoxy.”
“It is a decision that turns the clock of history far back and it is attempted to extol conquest as a value, and normalize violence imposition,” said Maximos Charakopoulos, during his speech at the meeting of the IAO’s International Secretariat by teleconference. “For the whole Οrthodox world, it is a development that creates sentiments of distress, disgust and indignation. And we certainly expect the international community, and especially the leaders of the Christian and mainly the predominantly Orthodox countries, to react decisively against the Turkish arbitrariness. As IAO we must play an active role in achieving this goal. I believe that we should issue a resolution of denunciation. This text should be sent to Heads of State, the UN, the EU, other international and regional organizations and specific bodies. I believe that the International Network of Catholic Legislators will support this effort, as well as pertinent associations of other faiths and denominations for the creation of a pan-Christian cooperation,” said Maximos Charakopoulos.
The IAO has issued a statement of condemnation which will be sent to international organizations, governments and organizations requesting the revocation of the decision to convert the Great Church into a mosque.
Source: ANA-MPA
