Pope makes Turkish mosque visit ( and nearby Hagia Sophia Museum ) ( former Christian Church ? )

BBC ^ | 30 November 2006 | BBC

[george76]

Pope Benedict XVI has visited one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.

During his tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the pontiff paused in silent prayer alongside senior Muslim clerics.

It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.

Earlier, the Pope visited the nearby Hagia Sophia Museum - a site heavy with Christian and Muslim symbolism - drawing around 150 protesters.

The Pope spent half an hour in Hagia Sophia, a domed complex that was once a Christian centre before becoming a mosque and eventually, a museum.

The BBC's David Willey says the Pope has been performing a delicate balancing act between creating better relations with the Orthodox Church, while also reaching out to Muslims.

The pontiff began Wednesday with a liturgical celebration by the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

A prime reason for Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey has been to heal the centuries-old rift between the two Churches.

Patriarch Bartholomew and the Pope embraced during the service.

"The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world," the Pope said after the meeting.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george. The original dome collapsed (I think it was) 13 years after the completion of the church, and was replaced with the one we see today. The current structure has withstood many earthquakes since. There's an anecdotal story about it, that when Justinian entered the completed church for the first time, he fell to his knees and said, "I have surpassed you, oh Solomon!"

[RobbyS]

Impressive, but it is really bedraggled looking. They can't restore it, because then they would have to uncover the mosiacs. So it is basically a shell, although a magnificent one.

[george76]

The muzzies hope to kills us all and then turn our churches into mosques.

not just museums.

[cricket]

'a domed complex'. . .so; it used to be a mall?

Yes, words mean things. . .

[sageb1]

I don't know where you get the idea he has apologized. He has not apologized.

[Valin]

It's been over 600 years now, you about ready to get over it? Reminds me of the Islamists ranting and raveing over the loss of Spain.

[Bonaparte]

2006 - 1453 = 553

I'm just sayin'... ;-)

[goldstategop]

An Orthodox Church transformed into one of the wonders of the medieval world by the Roman Emperor Justinian I. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it became a mosque. In 1935, the Turkish Republic converted it to a museum.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Valin]

I stand corrected..well actually I'm sitting but it'd the thought that counts...I could stand if you want...really no problem, I should stretch my legs anyway.

[goldstategop]

It was the Roman Empire until Heraclius lost the imperial western half of the Empire reconquered by the Justinian. The Eastern Romans held out due to the Roman Navy's command of the sea and the use of the Greek fire at the Arab fleets besieging Constantinople. The Arabs never did conquer the Empire and its millenium of existence protected the West from the surging tides of Islam. By the time it was overwhelmed by the Ottomans the West was ready to stand against on its own.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[SuziQ]

The Pope needs to remember that his duty is to serve God and His Son and not to make our faith a weak one. We get plenty of this from our spineless Democrat politicians.

Oh, he's plenty strong. Don't let his words fool you.

[Bonaparte]

Presumably, you're going to have to stand sooner or later, so take your time. :-)

I think George76 is entitled to roughly 47 more years of being upset about the loss of Constantinople and Hagia Sophia before he's told to cool it. It's only right that he get his full 600 years of pique. Just my humble opinion, Valin.

[Bonaparte]

"Oh, he's plenty strong."

He always has been. A man who has just been treated to a barrage of death threats from raging muslim fanatics, rioting in the streets, does not go into the belly of the beast like the Pope just did -- not unless he's plenty strong.

[M. Espinola]

"Religious services are prohibited, and Benedict's visit Thursday is considered by Turkish officials as only sightseeing"

With (non-Islamic) religious services being prohibited the Ottoman's might as well still be ruling.

Pope Benedict XVI,center,visits the Haghia Sophia Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. The pope is in Turkey on a four-day visit. (AP Photo/Erhan Sevenler)

[Al Simmons]

Here is a great photo of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade, Serbia...the biggest Orthodox Church in the Balkans...begun before WWII, its foundations and first 20-30 feet of wall languished for half a century until, with the fall of communism, construction began again in 1989.....the exterior is finished as you can see, the interior will take years to decorate given its enormous size....

[Jimmy Valentine]

It is much more than that. The Hagia Sophia (Church of the Divine Wisdom)was built by Byzantine Emperors well over a thousand years ago.

It is the symbol and standard for both Greek and Russian Orthodox churches all over the world.

If you look around you see them everywhere; as an example in Washington, D.C. there is the church of St. Sophia on Massachusetts Ave. a detailed replica.

[george76]

The Islamists are happy to be taking back Spain and France...soon all of Europe ?

It is not just our past losses, but also our future losses.

[Graymatter]

Hagia Sophia! Inspiration of Herbert Muller's "The Uses Of The Past," and that delightful, educational adventure game "Byzantine: The Betrayal."

[newcthem]

You are absolutely correct. I like this new pope, in his own way, on his own time, he is getting in the muzzie's face and pointing out just what we are up against.

We badly need world leaders willing to take this on, rather than hugging the "religion of peace" BS.

[GMMAC]

Arguably, Christianity's both most under recognized hero & military victory over the past thousand years were Jan Sobieski & his September 11th 1683 crushing of the Islamists at the gates of Vienna.

Aside from the 9/11 connection, there's a lot of other ironic & other trivia with respect to both the battle & its hero:
While Polish chauvinists would claim this as an almost exclusively "Polish" triumph, Poles - not to slight their highly valued contribution otherwise - actually made up a minority of Sobieski's fighting force; thus making "Vienna 9/11/83" a victory truly belonging to all Christendom.
Ethnic Ukrainians & troops from the Balic area were well represented as were both Scots & Irish forces.
This is the 'Celtic warrior' connection and, yes, it's reported the pipes were appropriately played both during & after the battle.
The significant involvement of the Scots is particularly interesting as it's claimed, a couple of generations later, Jan Sobieski's line intermarried with the legitimate Royal House of Scotland.

Another noteworthy claim is that Sobieski marched his army a full 2 days out of their way while otherwise rushing to lift the siege of Vienna so all could pray before the sacred image of Poland's "Black Madonna" and accordingly afterward credited & dedicated the victory to Our Lady.

At the more mundane level, even the lowly the bagel may well have been invented to honor Sobieski & celebrate the victory. OY !!!