 |
| Former Christian Cathedral Hagia Sophia declared a mosque by Turkish court Source: Wikipedia |
Turkish President Erdogan has declared Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia becomes a mosque open to Muslim worship after a top Turkish court ruled that the building’s conversion to a museum by modern Turkey’s founding statesman was illegal, effectively raising their fingers to Christian feelings and concerns expressed by the United States, Greece and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Originally a Christian Cathedral Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) was converted into a mosque when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453 after besieging the city for 55 days.
Hundreds of people who awaited the court's ruling outside the building chanted 'Allah is great!', the same chant used when murdering Christians in Islamist attacks.
The Times of Israel reports "the decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia - a former cathedral that was turned into a mosque after Istanbul’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire and had served as a museum for 86 years - sparked deep dismay among Orthodox Christians."
 |
| Abp Welby Source: ENA |
In May 2019 when Jeremy Hunt was Foreign Secretary, according to a report ordered by him the persecution of Christians in parts of the world was at near "genocide" levels. The review which was led by the Bishop of Truro estimated that one in three people suffered from religious persecution and that Christians were the most persecuted religious group.
Genocide Watch warned in April that "350 Nigerian Christians were massacred in the first two months of 2020. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered since June 2015. Four to five million Christians are displaced. 2000 churches were destroyed."
"Nigeria has become a killing field of defenseless Christians. Reliable sources show that between 11,500 and 12,000 Christians have been massacred since June 2015 when the Buhari Government of Nigeria came to power. These statistics are based on careful records kept by church groups that include the names of victims and dates of their murders.
"Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for 7,400 murders of Christians. Boko Haram committed 4000 killings of Christians. ‘Highway Bandits’ who separated Christians from Muslims on buses and then killed the Christians committed over 200 murders.
 |
| Francis Source: Church Militant |
Despite all the evidence of jihad over 1400 years, Pope Francis declared "It isn't right to say that Islam is a terrorist faith."
I doubt that the Christians being killed and persecuted in Africa and around rest of the world would agree with him.
With all the resources at the disposal of the papacy one would have thought that His Holiness might have been better advised about the aims of Islam as laid out in the Quran.
He would find all the evidence needed to expose a supremacist ideology that falsely claims to be a religion of peace when that peace arises only after all are Muslims subject to the will of Allah.
The bitter fruits of Islamic appeasement are everywhere but to no avail.
 |
| Hagia Sophia interior. Source: Church Militant |
How long will it be before Christian images in Hagia Sophia are covered over to avoid the sensitivities of devout Muslims now that the Christian Cathedral has been declared a mosque?
Postscript [12.07.20]
World Council of Churches appeals to Turkey on mosque decision
A Greek Islamic leader has requested that Hagia Sophia remains a museum and not be converted into a mosque as "the name suggests Hagia Sophia is a Christian church".
Pope 'very pained' by decision to turn Istanbul's Hagia Sophia museum into mosque.
Postscript [13.07.20]
Extremist Islam Threatens Christians Across the Middle East
"It’s time that the purging of Christians and erasing of Christian history that predates Islam needs to be stopped."
Postscript [14.07.20]
Historian warns Islam will target St. Peter's after Hagia Sophia
"'The goal of Islam is clear — after Saint Sophia, Saint Peter', Professor Roberto de Mattei told Church Militant, following Pope Francis' six word non-condemnation of Turkey's inflammatory decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque."
Postscript [24.07.20]
Hagia Sophia’s Muslim Prayers Evoke Ottoman Treatment of Armenians
Declared a mosque in principle, Hagia Sophia is now a mosque in practice.
As Turkish president Erdoğan joins hundreds in celebration, Christians in the diaspora mourn their lost homeland and cultural heritage.
Postscript [12.07.20]
World Council of Churches appeals to Turkey on mosque decision
A Greek Islamic leader has requested that Hagia Sophia remains a museum and not be converted into a mosque as "the name suggests Hagia Sophia is a Christian church".
Pope 'very pained' by decision to turn Istanbul's Hagia Sophia museum into mosque.
Postscript [13.07.20]
Extremist Islam Threatens Christians Across the Middle East
"It’s time that the purging of Christians and erasing of Christian history that predates Islam needs to be stopped."
Postscript [14.07.20]
"'The goal of Islam is clear — after Saint Sophia, Saint Peter', Professor Roberto de Mattei told Church Militant, following Pope Francis' six word non-condemnation of Turkey's inflammatory decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque."
Postscript [24.07.20]
Hagia Sophia’s Muslim Prayers Evoke Ottoman Treatment of Armenians
Declared a mosque in principle, Hagia Sophia is now a mosque in practice.
As Turkish president Erdoğan joins hundreds in celebration, Christians in the diaspora mourn their lost homeland and cultural heritage.
Was the Jerusalem mosque once a church?
ReplyDeleteAl-Aqsa ? No. And when the forces of the Caliph 'Umar captured the City, the Caliph was invited by the Patriarch Sophronius in to the Holy Sepulchre (Anastasis) to say his prayers. He declined, on the grounds that if he did so the place would become a mosque.
DeleteAtaturk will be spinning.
ReplyDeleteIndeed he will be. I think that this is as much a political decision as a religious one. Erdogan knows that his support is falling, and it's rumoured that he may want to call a snap Presidential election sooner than later. Those who oppose this move probably oppose him already, but it may make him pick up some support among the waverers.
DeleteIt is entirely a political decision. Up till now Mr. Erdoğan has put the brakes on the conversion of Hagia Sophia. But the AKP recently lost the election for Mayor of Istanbul and were so displeased that they insisted on running the election again - and still lost. This is a way of shoring up his core support in Anatolia. More worrying than Hagia Sophia (which will at least enjoy a significant public profile) is the fate of the Parecclesium of the Chora Church (Kariye Camii). This has also recently been declared a mosque. My sense is that the mosaics there (and indeed at Hagia Sophia) can be covered without excessive damage, but that the wonderful wall paintings, in particular the Anastasis in the apse, will be difficult to conceal from the sensibilities of Muslim dévots. That great painting needs to be seen on the surface where it was painted so that it can be a means of grace to the viewer.
DeleteI didn't know that about Chora. When we visited we couldn't see everything as "they had the builders in", however it was still amazing/
ReplyDeleteThey are also rebuilding as a mosque the Church of S. John Stoudios (Imrahor Camii), a building originally of the 5th century ruined in a fire in the late 19th century.
DeleteI wonder how long the Cathedral 0f Cordoba will retain its christian character.
ReplyDeleteThis has been the centre of controversy for years, wit both the Catholic Church making a bid for ownership and Muslims wanting permission to pray in it. https://tinyurl.com/ybr5byn2
DeleteIt was already a mosque. Once Muslim prayer has taken place, in Islam's view, the building is a mosque forever e.g. Bangor "Cathedral", and others, no doubt.
ReplyDelete