Welby backs Orthodox in fight over Hagia Sophia

[hrmjustin]

Author:
George Conger
The Archbishop of Canterbury has lent his support to the Ecumenical Patriarch in the battle with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over plans to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Following the conquest of Constantinople the Ottoman Turks turned the ancient church into a mosque. However members of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ruling party have called upon the government to overturn the decision made in the 1930s by Kemal Ataturk to turn the cathedral into a museum.

Archon news reports that during his visit with Patriarch Bartholomew I last month the Archbishop of Canterbury said Hagia Sophia “should not become a mosque.”

“That would be another loss, in which a great symbol of civilization throughout the world was transformed into a particular symbol of exclusivism,” the archbishop was quoted as saying.

- See more at: http://www.anglicanink.com/article/welby-backs-orthodox-fight-over-hagia-sophia#sthash.atPK4nAM.dpuf

[Leontius]

1. Anyone who cares about history should oppose turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

[hrmjustin]

2. I agree. It should remain a museum.

[edhopper]

3. How do you feel about the Roman temples

turned into Christian churches?

[hrmjustin]

4. interesting question but that is not happening here.

It is a museum and should remain one. By turning it into a mosque it will create tensions.


BTW I would be sympathetic to the pagans who lost their places of worship.

[edhopper]

5. Sorry

I meant my question for Leontius.
Hit the wrong reply.

[hrmjustin]

6. No I butted in my friend.

[edhopper]

7. that's okay

I agree with you anyway.

[Leontius]

13. I'm sure there were some but not as many as you may think. The pagan temple was not really

Last edited Mon Feb 10, 2014, 06:47 PM - Edit history (1)

suitable for Christian worship practices. The civic basilica was the preferred building converted for use as a church. Most of the damage done to temples was not from conversion to churches as most was done by Christian vandalism and abandonment. The same cannot be said about the damage done to Hagia Sophia by its conversion to a mosque six hundred years ago and what could be lost after its restoration and conversion to a museum if it happened again.

[edhopper]

14. Agree with last point.

[Act_of_Reparation]

8. It was built in the 6th century...

...you'd think it be a World Heritage Site by now.

[hrmjustin]

9. Yes it should be.

And I hope it remains a museum.

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. With all the deference the Turks show Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

I don't think this is a serious threat. Ataturk made the Hagia Sophia a museum. If people are still hanging his picture on their walls, I hope his opinion still counts for something.

[hrmjustin]

11. Agreed!

Lord knows all the trouble it will cause if they go ahead with it.

[Leontius]

12. Read some recent news about the current government and creeping Islamic attempts

to push back secularism in Turkey. AKP been trying this for years.