Legend has it that when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem in the year 637, Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, invited the caliph Umar to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Umar declined, explaining that if he did, the Muslims would convert the church into a mosque, as Muslim prayers had been uttered there. It is likely that this man now considers the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross to be a mosque, since he uttered the Adhan within it.
“Turkish Man Breaks into Church to Recite Adhan,” International Christian Concern, July 5, 2020:
07/05/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – As Turkey’s national conversation focuses on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia church into a mosque, a Muslim man in Eastern Turkey broke into an Armenian Church and filmed himself reciting the Islamic call to prayer (the Adhan).
The incident occurred on Akhtamar Island in the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross. In addition to filming himself reciting the Adhan, he also posted photos of a sentence he had graffitied which said “raising the Adan in the church’s sanctuary has brought life back to it….
Armenians were viciously targeted by Turkey over a century ago in what is widely recognized as a genocide. At least 1.5 million Armenians were killed or deported. Turkey, however, refuses to acknowledge this history. Armenians continue to be viewed as less than second class citizens and are frequently targeted with hate speech by the authorities.
CogitoErgoSum says
Now an exorcism must be performed at the church.
mortimer says
This is chilling. The Turks are preparing their citizens for the next genocide. The international community MUST not let Turkey commit genocide AGAIN.
CogitoErgoSum says
I’m being serious, mortimer. Islam is pure evil and should not be accepted as anything but that.
mortimer says
It’s cultic behavior. Islam is one of the most successful cults of history due to its ability to keep its adherents hypnotized. They act as if in a trance until they receive a ‘sharp shock’ of realizing Islam is of human origin. Coptic priest Fr. Zakariya Boutros says that this ‘sharp shock’ will often bring a Muslim out of his trance. He is one of the most successful deprogrammers of Muslims in history.
R Thomasson says
@Mortimer. You write: “The international community MUST not let Turkey commit genocide AGAIN”. I have news for you. The international community does not give one damn S**t for anything at all. Especially not for small fry as genocide. Who cares for the genocide that is taking right now place in Muslim countries against Christians? Diverse African countries and Pakistan are good example for that. Who cares about the genocide committed by China against the Oeigoers or the Tibetans? Few days ago, I’ve seen a documentary on Dutch TV on the fall of the Muslim enclave Screbrenica. The units of Dutchbat were to light armed, and couldn’t do anything against the heavy armed Serbian units of General Ratko Mladic. They had waited in vain for airborne aid of NATO- that didn’t come. Reason: UN and NATO had, decided – behind closed doors – upon giving up the enclave …that included the possibility of Genocide! All that means: every country that is at war risk, has to fight for it’s life ALONE. UN and NATO are nice decoration for a theatre named: we good fellows- but nothing more than that. When needed both are completely useless.
Mira Nair says
Erdogen is trying to be Caliph of Ottoman Empire. On one hand capturing Turkey making it a country run on Shariat gradually eliminating non-Muslims or converting them. Alongside is also releasing Muslims into Greece and from there to other European countries so as to systematically Islamise. This is what they did in Indonesia. In Kashmir and Kerela they are throwing non-Muslims out. In Nepal they are increasing their population in a systematic manner. In rest of India they are hell bent on taking forward their Islamic Agenda forward and if they are restrained , they play victim card and cry hoarse for secularism (read appeasement/ favouritism at the cost of Hindus/ Christians/ Budhdhists/ Sikhs, etc.. Let the world unite against this Islamic menace under the tutelage of Turkish Criminal leadership.
Martin says
video – NOVEMBER 2017
– Muslim call to prayer inside the Armenian church on Akhtamar island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMTPJfbenHE
Layi Adigun says
Lie is your trademark. It is against Islamic law to observe salat or carry out any form of ibadah in a church.
Jerome says
Yeah, yeah same day with Hagia Sophia. Another Armenian attention seeking…
gravenimage says
Is this sarcastic?
gravenimage says
Turkey: Muslim breaks into venerable Armenian Orthodox cathedral, recites Islamic call to prayer
……………………..
Because slaughtering almost all surviving Armenian Christians a hundred years ago was not enough.
God, I hate Islam.
GreekEmpress says
I was so disturbed when I found out this morning that Erdogan signed the decree officially making Hagia Sofia into a mosque. It will always be a Christian cathedral! The Turks are just squatters—
I’m waiting for a protest from Pope Francis about this matter. Anybody willing to bet we’ll get one????
Not holding my breath.
Bud says
You are so right, GE, that Hagia Sophia will always be Christian. I spent several hours inside there, about six years ago, and I palpably sensed the overwhelming sadness of the Theotokos at the defilement of that holy place dedicated to her. The place, also, where Byzantine emperors were crowned.
God is not mocked, and His word does not return to Him void. Hagia Sophia will one day be restored and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
gravenimage says
Yes, this is terrible, GreekEmpress. That story is here:
“Erdogan signs decree turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/07/erdogan-signs-decree-turning-hagia-sophia-into-a-mosque
gravenimage says
Pope Francis has still said *nothing*:
“Pope Francis’ sad silence on the issue of Hagia Sophia”
https://orthodoxtimes.com/pope-francis-sad-silence-on-the-issue-of-hagia-sophia/
GreekEmpress says
Thanks for the link gravenimage; I just got done reading it. Glad to see that Greek Catholics spoke up. They’re probably Eastern Rite. Our liturgies are almost identical to the Orthodox, and if other priests are like mine, they stand up to this sort of thing.
mortimer says
Erdogan is declaring his support for the conquest of Europe by Muslims in this symbolic gesture.
He who has eyes let him see.
Aleksander says
Scientific said fact.
Layi Adigun says
All of you here are bigots wailing wailers. Why are you not complaining about different mosques that were already converted to churches, bars and restaurants, museums and cinemas across Greece, Spain and other places in Europe?
America, Europe and other ally Christian countries are uniting to destroy Muslim countries, yet extremists sons and daughters of hate are afraid of Islam.
I for one believe that Christianity represent peace until recently.
You guys are full of hate and will do everything humanly possible to obliterate Muslims and Islam from the planet earth. Nay! You shall come to know that Islam is a light set by the Almighty Creator, you can only try, you’ll never be able to obliterate it.