in the letter, In particular, said: “it is likely that in the next month, a Turkish court announced that the Hagia Sophia should be converted into a mosque. This is another manifestation of contempt for the Turkish government to the Christian heritage of this country and the remaining Christians of Turkey, and also shows that the Ecumenical Patriarchate systematically deprived of basic legal rights”.
the letter Also Trump asks: “the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate strongly hope and ask you to protect the religious freedom of Christians in Turkey and the common heritage of mankind, preventing it blasphemous and unnecessary decision.”
According to the text of the letter, “Converted into a mosque after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia has become a Museum in 1935, a monument to the human spirit and a living symbol of respect for all faiths. Turn it into a mosque now would be to deny it respect.”
a Letter signed by the head of the Order, Anthony J. Limberakis.
the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – public non-profit organization affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The title archon is given by the Patriarch of Constantinople for the Greeks the laity from various fields, known for his service to the Greek Orthodox community.
currently, the Turkish authorities are considering the possibility to return to the Hagia Sophia, the status of the mosque as it was from 1453 to 1934. It is expected that the decision can be taken at the beginning of July, after the state Council meeting, and already on 15 July in Ayia Sofia can pass the prayer gathering of Muslims on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of coup attempt in Turkey.
As shown by surveys conducted in Turkey, about 70 percent of the population support or against this decision.
Earlier, the head of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Masalan sahag (sahag II) proposed to turn the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to the place of prayer for believers of all religions.
meanwhile, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, located in Istanbul in the area of Fanari, still did not react to the initiative of the Turkish government. Apparently, the silence of the Patriarch caused by unstable position of the Orthodox Church in Turkey and the unwillingness to aggravate relations with authorities, as direct intervention Fanara is unlikely to yield a positive result, but it can have a negative impact on Patriarchy.
