Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially declared the conversion of the Chora Monastery, a Byzantine church in Constantinople, into a mosque during a special ceremony. He participated in the event via teleconference directly from the presidential palace.
It is the monument with the most elaborate Byzantine mosaics preserved in Constantinople, along with the Hagia Sophia and the Monastery of Pammakaristos, which also operates as a mosque.
“In the past 21 years, we have diligently restored 5,500 ancestral monuments across our nation and within the depths of our collective conscience,” stated the Turkish president in his opening remarks at the ceremony. The event marked the culmination of efforts to restore and preserve 201 historical monuments undertaken by the General Directorate of Foundations across Turkey and in Pristina, Kosovo.
“I perceive today’s significant ceremony as yet another testament to the sensitivity we exhibit concerning heritage preservation,” continued Tayyip Erdogan. When the focus shifted to the Chora Monastery, he deferred to the provincial mufti of Constantinople, Safi Arpagius, who remarked, “Mr. President, after 79 years, it has been restored and reopened for the faithful by the General Directorate of Foundations. “Kariye” was turned into a museum 79-80 years after the mosque of Hagia Sophia. It was a place that was used as a mosque before. “After 1947, this mosque, which was converted into a museum, underwent renovation and restoration efforts, supported by our institutions. Today, by the grace of God, it is once again being dedicated to prayer and will welcome the faithful in Constantinople.”
“At this moment,” the Turkish president stated, “you hold the scissors in your hands and the ribbon lies before you.” “All together,” he announced, “let’s say ‘in the name of the Lord’ (for Allahu bismilah) and cut the ribbon. Congratulations!”
The mosque will function based on the Hagia Sophia model. The mosaics on the walls of the prayer area were covered, while an area was determined to be visited by tourists with a guide.
Foreign Ministry: The operation of the Chora Church as a mosque is a challenge for the international community
“The Turkish authorities’ decision to convert the Chora Church into a mosque poses a significant challenge for the international community, as it fundamentally alters and undermines its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which belongs to humanity as a whole,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement emphasized that “preserving the ecumenical nature of monuments and adhering to international standards for safeguarding religious and cultural heritage represent a distinct international obligation incumbent upon all nations.”
Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos
