In an announcement, Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Irakleio and Chalkidona calls on the citizens to pray on Friday, July 24, at the time when the Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople will be desecrated.
The Church of Hagia Sophia was built for the purpose of peace and the meeting of the faithful as the body of church and was erected to demonstrate the value of human civilization with its radiance, as the hierarch emphasizes, “now becomes again a place of division and controversy.”
According to the Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, “we respond to the Turkish provocation with prayer. We respond to the violation of religious freedom with prayer. We will hold a Vigil service from 8:30 till 00:30 at the Church of Saint Georgios in Nea Ionia on Friday, July 24.
We are waiting for all of you to raise a heartfelt voice to the Almighty Lord of peace and mercy and to the Invincible General, Our Theotokos. We are waiting for you all to pray for Hagia Sophia. Prayer is our peaceful revolution!”
