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Mayor takes action against graffiti on walls of historical city for Christianity
Mayor takes action against graffiti on walls of historical city for Christianity
The mayor of the western Turkish town of İznik, which is a key venue in the history of Christianity, has launched a campaign against those who paint the historic city walls with graffiti despite repeated warnings. Click through for the story in photos...
“They write about their love as well as swear words on thousand-year-old city walls. We want our youth to claim their history,” İznik mayor Osman Sargın told Demirören News Agency on Aug. 22.
İznik, which was known in history as Nicaea, was the place of the two important councils of Christian bishops. (Photo: Hagia Sophia Byzantine Cathedral, İznik, Hanan Isachar / Alamy Stock Photo)
In 325 A.D., Roman Emperor Constantine I organized the first council in Nicaea for the settlement of the issue of the deity of Christ. (Photo: İznik Lake, Dimitri Carol / Alamy Stock Photo)
Nicaea also hosted the Seventh Council in 787 A.D. to restore the use and veneration of icons, which had been suppressed during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Leo III. (Photo: "Istanbul Gate" of ancient city walls of İznik, Westend61 GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)
“Our town can become one of the most important stops of Christian pilgrimage. We also host pieces from Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. We must protect this heritage,” Sargın said. (Photo: Ottoman style İznik ceramic tiles at the Tomb of Sultan Selim II in the outer courtyard of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, by funkyfood London - Paul Williams / Alamy Stock Photo)
“But we need help. We had erased all the graffiti only last week and new ones have just appeared,” said the mayor. (Photo: Byzantine tower, Chris Hellier / Alamy Stock Photo)
“We will erase these too and continue our appeal for everyone to respect our history,” he said. (Photo: An İznik plate, INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo)
Photo: Traditional Turkish "yellow houses" of İznik, Chris Hellier / Alamy Stock Photo
Photo: Early İznik grape pottery dish, Ottoman Turkey, 1530, estimated GBP 300,000-400,000 at a Christie's auction. ukartpics / Alamy Stock Photo
Photo: İznik tiles at Selimiye Mosque, Edirne. Ihsan Gercelman / Alamy Stock Photo
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