When Constantinople fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453 one of the first acts fo blasphemy was to add the minarets turning this cathedral into a mosque.
Posted on 07/14/2005 10:48:27 AM PDT by eleni121
Turkey aspires to join the European Union. The time has come to restore Hagia Sophia’s spirituality as a place of Christian worship. Turkey has to remember that old wisdom that says, “Do not do to others what you don’t wish them to do unto you”. Justice must prevail so that religious integrity might be restored. Turkey has to face up to its history and address this vital issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at hagiasophiablog.com ...
When Constantinople fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453 one of the first acts fo blasphemy was to add the minarets turning this cathedral into a mosque.
Restoring Haghia Sofia (Holy Wisdom) to its Christian roots would go a long way to restoring some sense of shared history between Greeks and Turks and would demonstrate a possibility of mutual respect between Muslims and Christians.
What a blessing that would be! It would go a long way toward mutual respect.
Yes it would be...but is will not happen. Muslims who convert to Christianity are routinely executed in any number of Muslim countries---do you think that they would allow Haghia Sophia to be turned into a Christian Cathedral again? NO way.
e,
I don't think you're paying attention.
Everyone else has to accomodate muslim demands regarding culture, values, and behavior.
To ask the same of muslims, however, is hate speech.
I'm aware fo the double standard. I am simply pointing out that some naive Christians are using the tools of the secularists to fight back. Does Turkey want to join the EU? Well then restore the churches! Of course it won't happen...Islamic ideology works one way ---their way.
PING
True. They would never allow it. I suspect it has become/is a symbol of Muslim superiority, to capture and convert the Cathedral into a mosque in the center of what was Byzantine Christianity. To back track would be a huge loss. I had hoped at least that Turkey was more tolerant of it's Christians, at least in 'cosmopolitan' Istanbul where we were allowed to believe it was, but it seems not, just an illusion.
Do you think that the catherdral in Cordoba, Spain should be turned back into a mosque as a Christian demonstration of respect for Muslims?
Personally, I think the Turkish solution to the Hagia Sophia/Aya Sophia issue, to desconsecrate the building as a mosque, turn it into a museum, and display both Muslim and Christian iconography stands as a gesture of respect or reconciliation to the Christian world.
Its a beautiful building, I've been all through it. Turkey is a muslim nation, if they want it to stay as a mosque, that is their business.
The Hagia Sofia is not a mosque and hasn't been since 1935. It's a museum which displays both Christian mosaics and Islamic religious decoration.
As for turning it back into a church, I really doubt it'll happen. It'd be nice, but you know some a-hole with a bomb will spoil it if they do.
As I understnd it, that's exactly as it stands now. It is no longer a working Mosque and is a museum. They have removed the plaster that was used to cover the Christian mosaics and they are now visible. Both Christian and Muslim decorations are visible.
It was a museum when I was there in '94 and according to the following site still is.
http://www.focusmm.com/civilization/hagia/welcome.htm
FWIW, that's one of the best trips I ever took.
Thanks, that's what I heard. I've missed that particular tour three times now and it isn't looking like I'm going to be traveling again for quite awhile. (Sigh!)
The Turkish government is avowedly secular, and extremists are not tolerated by the military.
---do you think that they would allow Haghia Sophia to be turned into a Christian Cathedral again? NO way.
No, they wouldn't, but for the same reason that we don't turn the Black Hills back over to the Sioux. Holy or not, that's how it is and that's how it's going to stay.
Agreed. An amazing building and a great museum.
I did not realize it was no longer actively a mosque. I know that the Turks did recognize the beauty and treasure of some of the Christian mosaics. And the Islamic art, while I do not know or recognize it's religious significance to them, is also quite beautiful. It seems the Turks do have some reasonableness in that regard, but I am one of those who wouldn't mind seeing it become a Cathedral once again. And I know that's not likely.
If you ever get chance, go. The Turks are incredibly friendly and not in that "I have something to sell you" way you often get when traveling. I was particularly impressed by Istanbul and Ephesus. When my kids get a little older, I think we'll go back and do some more exploring on the Aegean Coast.
hagia sophia ping
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