“That’s why Western Christians (Latins) worshiped there too up until 1054.”
Latins were worshipping with some of my ancestors at the last Divine Liturgy on the night of May 28, 1453 when the Mohammedan Turks burst in and began slaughtering and raping the congregation. The priests gathered up the gifts and disappeared into the back wall of the altar. It has been said that they will return just before the consecration at the next Divine Liturgy in Agia Sophia.
Ooooh I want to see that!!
Went to Hagia Sophia when I was an exchange student summer of ‘89. It positively floored me. May have been the initial catalyst to my joining the Catholic Church from lapsed Episcopalianism many, MANY years later.
BTW I do very much enjoy your posts on the prayer threads and bits of Orthodox history.