Source: Ahval News Taner Akçam Originally published on July 13, 2020 Basically, the whole Hagia Sophia affair can be summed up with the phrases “improper” or “a shame”. But I think that the audience whom I am addressing do not possess the cultural delicacy to find these words meaningful. For their sakes, it would better to formulate it in a frank manner that they could more easily understand: the deed that is being performed in regard to Hagia Sophia is a clear show of barbarism. It is a declaration of a “Turkish lack of culture and destructiveness” to the entire…
Browsing: Erdogan
Source: The New York Times Changing the secular space back into a religious one is a risk for the World Heritage Site. By The Editorial Board The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom. On Friday, after 86 years as a museum, the great Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will once again echo with Muslim prayers. To Turkish Islamists, the conversion marks the fulfillment of a long-held dream of restoring a symbol of Ottoman grandeur. For many others around the world, the change is a…
Haghia Sophia
Source: Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, notes with sorrow and dismay new reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may convert the Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Hagia Sofia in Istanbul is known throughout the world as the Great Church of Christ. Built in the sixth century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was for nearly a thousand years the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the center of the Orthodox Faith, and the world’s most magnificent cathedral. Following the Muslim conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted to…
Erdogan and Putin face to face in key regional talks
Source: Hurriyet Daily News By BARÇIN YİNANÇ It is 2008. Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew is preparing to go to Kiev. “The Russian intelligence knew that the visit’s aim was to give autocephaly status to the Ukrainian church,” a source familiar with the process had said. Autocephaly is the status of a hierarchical Christian church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. Accordingly, this status to the Ukrainian church meant striking a serious blow to the Russian Church, therefore to Russia. Vladimir Putin calls Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to prevent this visit from taking place. Greece’s ambassador in…
Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas with a religious service on saturday at St. Pierre Church in Hatay. (Photo: AA)
Source: Today’s Zaman 25 December 2011 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL The thousands of Christians in Turkey began their Christmas celebrations on Dec. 24, and several religious ceremonies were held in different churches as political figures like the president and prime minister issued holiday messages. İstiklal Street was the center of activity where Christians gathered together to spend the evening. Some joined parties while many others went to church to pray. Many Catholics celebrated Christmas with a religious service on the night of Dec. 24 at St. Antuan Church on İstiklal Street. The evening Christmas Eve service commemorates the fact that…