That is in part what it is intended to be. As I explain here, the conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque is an integral part of Erdogan’s aspiration to restore the Ottoman caliphate, which would involve the subjugation under Sharia of Christians within his domains.
“Metropolitan Hilarion: Conversion of Hagia Sophia into Mosque is a ‘Slap in the Face to all Christianity,'” Pravmir.com, July 11, 2020:
Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, told TASS that the conversion of Hagia Sophia into mosque in Istanbul is “a slap in the face to the entire world Christianity”.
“One can differently assess the domestic political situation in Turkey and the factors that prompted the Turkish leadership to such a decision. But the spiritual and cultural heritage of the whole world should not become a hostage to the current political situation. It is a pity that political conditions prevail over respect for other religious traditions. The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is a slap in the face that the Turkish leadership gave the Orthodox Church and the whole world Christianity,” the source said….
Metropolitan Hilarion noted that such a decision by the Turkish government is disappointing. “Hagia Sophia was built as a temple dedicated to Jesus Christ, and we Orthodox Christians cannot perceive it otherwise. From 1934 to this day, Hagia Sophia had the status of a museum, which made it possible for Christians, Muslims, and representatives of other religions to visit it freely<…> For Orthodox Christians, Hagia Sophia is the same as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is for Catholics. This is a symbolic temple and one of the greatest Christian shrines,” added the metropolitan, emphasizing that Christians cannot and will not perceive it in any other way.
J Morgan says
This is why I am not a Catholic. The Pope doesn’t defend Christ.
James Lincoln says
Because of the Pope Francis, I have left the Roman Catholic Church.
Metropolitan Hilarion has stated what Pope Francis *should* have stated.
Still a devout Christian, I have found some wonderful places to worship, including the Greek Orthodox Church.
mortimer says
Pope Francis should have said what is obvious: The Hagia Sophia is seen as the seat of Orthodox Christianity by 260 million Orthodox Christians. This is seen as an aggression against the most important Orthodox church in the world. How would Muslims feel if a Western power seized the Kaaba and turned it into a church and then said, ‘What’s the big deal?’.
Hagia Sophia is a clear threat to other religions. Erdogan is saying to all other faiths (not only Christians) that WE MUSLIMS OF TURKEY DO NOT RESPECT YOUR FEELINGS OR YOUR FAITH. Erdogan is saying that Turkey will conquer and dominate and the victims of their conquest will have their feelings completely ignored by Erdogan and by Turkish Muslims.
Erdogan’s conversion will not even be acceptable to Muslims, because Hagia Sophia is filled with pictures and the presence of those pictures will INVALIDATE the prayers of those who pray in the building. Pious, well-informed Muslims will refuse to pray at Hagia Sophia.
Victoria Regina says
Hubs and I are just like you. Left RCC, still devout Christians and worship in many Christian churches.
Rufolino says
I too am a believing Christian, Victoria (and James).
But I find myself unable to worship in any churches. It is all extremely painful, it makes one feel alienated and bad. So I have turned into a sort of Christian hermit, I try to carry Jesus around on my back.
Recently someone here asked me if I had been to the Easter services. No, I replied.
You’re not a Catholic then ? he said.
No, I’m a Christian, I said.
He nearly died laughing.
gravenimage says
Russian Orthodox Church spokesman: conversion of Hagia Sophia ‘a slap in the face to the entire world Christianity’
…………….
Yes–that’s exactly what this is intended to be.
mortimer says
Have you heard of the ‘OTTOMAN SLAP’ ???
Soldiers in the Ottoman army trained themselves for hand-to-hand combat by slapping wet marble, and it’s said that this made their hands grow very hard and calloused, enabling them to deliver a devastating slap that was supposedly able to cause a concussion or even break the enemy’s neck.
During a speech in February 2018, Erdoğan warned the US that it might receive an ‘Ottoman slap’ and said that ‘Those who say they will give a sharp response if hit, have clearly never got an Ottoman slap in their lives’.
mortimer says
I hope this slap in the face wakes up a few church leaders and the laity who formerly considered Islam to be benign.
Rufolino says
Don’t worry, it won’t.
You are no longer allowed to be offended, it’s politically incorrect. Except if you are a Moslem. We are all being trained to be obedient in preparation for Sharia Law.
SAFI says
This contrasts rather sharply with Vladimir Putin’s government’s mute response, not to mention the mute response of most other orthodox church leaders as well as the “saddened” Pope and that other great enemy of islamophobia and proponent of tolerance and inter-faith dialogue the Archbishop of Canterbury who also didn’t see any reason to make any statement
mortimer says
The patriarch of Russia and the archbishop of Canterbury are government appointees and they answer to the government in political statements which of course must be authorized in advance.
SAFI says
That’s not true, the Patriarch is elected by the synod of bishops, just like the Pope is elwcted by the Cardinals. That said Putin’s actual spokesman said that this is internal turkish issue and that the Russian govt respects Turkey’s sovereignty, which is indeed quite different from the comments the Russian Church made.
SAFI says
Meanwhile… the Pope might be “sad” but someone else is overjoyed
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/07/14/iran-felt-joy-when-hagia-sophia-was-converted/
tim gallagher says
Good to see a church leader telling the truth, which is what they should always do. I suspect that this is a church leader who understands Islam’s nature and sees that it is a clear enemy (and always has been and always will be) of Christianity and all non-Muslim religions. It’s always good to see people who don’t try to sugar coat Islam with politically correct garbage. I wish the current Pope and some of the Protestant church apologists for Islam would wake up and start telling the truth about Islam.
GreekEmpress says
+1
Adam says
So if the Pope and other “church” leaders were to speak up, that would somehow make a difference?
I predict a lot of disappointed faces. No help will be forthcoming.
gravenimage says
The Pope is quite influential, and this goes beyond Catholics.
So yes–his speaking out–or not–here does indeed make a difference.
mortimer says
Yes, Adam if all the church leaders spoke out saying something similar, the government of Turkey would listen. They represent over a billion people who may not want to spend their money on Turkish good or services.
We will see if the EU sanctions are successful. I will boycott Turkish goods. Will you?
gravenimage says
I’m not sure that Turkey would listen, Mortimer–but at least a lot more Infidels might wake up.
JTLiuzza says
Behold the fruits of a half century of Vatican II ecumenical “dialogue.”
mortimer says
Pope Francis has lost face. He got slapped too.
Tony Naim says
I agree 100% with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch. This is not an issue of Greek versus Russian versus American or Orthodox versus Catholic versus Protestant . At the time the Hagia Sophia was built, it was meant to honor Christ more than the ethnic tradition or the theologic details of the people who built it.
Let’s keep the focus on this , not let it deviate from this central theme (Christ) to the benefit of ErDogan.
I am Catholic, and my Catholicism is linked directly to Christ, it does not go through the Pope.
My heart aches for the theft of the Hagia Sophia.
What may one day restore that cathedral is the unified voice of Christians around it not their divisive petty squabbles.
Rbla says
If only the demon rats and the deep state had not ruined Trump’s attempts to improve relations with Russia this could have been one of the issues on which both nations would cooperate.
gravenimage says
Not sure about that, Rbla. Putin has been appeasing Muslims, and sucking up to Turkey.
Chrissie01 says
it is a slap in the face of Christianity. But it is – unwillingly -also a big celebration of cultural plagiarism. The HAGIA SOPHIA is an archtectural monument of the highest order with regard to its beauty and proportion. Unable to design anything like this themselves, Muslims used it as a blueprint for countless mosques, unable – of course – to notice, how the four minaretts around the building destroy the entire concept…If you know how to read the signs, it is revealing.
Marigold says
A Pope that erroneously says all religions are willed by God was not going to object too strongly when it was announced that the Hagia Sofia is going to be turned back into a mosque.It was left to Metropolitan Hilarion to say what should have been said.However, weak popes have existed before in the Catholic Church’s 2000 year history so that does not make the Church Christ Himself founded wrong .We have His promise that He will be with it until the end of the world weak Pope or not We should also remember that Our Lady prophesied at Fatima that”the errors would reach right to the top of the church” towards the end of time.
andrew mckendrick says
Pope Urban The Second when will we see your like again?
OLD GUY says
It’s going to take more than speaking up to stop the muslim/islamic invasion of the west and Christian countries. Our governments and businesses must shut off the money going into the muslim countries it is only funding the islamic ideology of a world ruled by islam. The muslim countries do not have the infrastructure to build modern military equipment, they can only wage this war against us through the purchase of arms through our governments. It appears that we give them foreign aid and they turn around and purchase weapons from our corporations with that money.
Makes me wonder who is pushing the agenda to give foreign aide to a country that is screaming kill Americans. Stop all foreign aid to countries that are not truly allies and have a proven track record of supporting freedom.
janwog says
The West supported the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century,, while Russia wanted to reclaim Constantinople for the Orthodoxy.
gravenimage says
Russia was fast expanding, and the moribund Ottoman Empire did not appear to be much of a threat. The West did push the Ottomans for rights for the Christian minority, though, including ending forced taking of child slaves for the military and girls as sex slaves.
Jerome B Bigge says
Tom Kratman’s novel, “Caliphate” is starting to look more and more likely to become true…
Sentinel says
Everyone should just boycott Turkey and Turkish produce for a start.
Lynn Hill says
I think we have us an anti Christ.