LOCAL > Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia to open for prayers

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Hagia Sophia Museum, in Istanbul, was first dedicated as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica in 360 AD. Hürriyet photo

The historical Hagia Sophia in Trabzon will soon be opened up for prayers, according to the Foundations Directorate Head Adnan Ertem, while a parliamentary commission is also considering an application to reopen Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Museum for prayers.

Ertem said five of the seven Hagia Sophias nationwide were currently functioning as mosques, but two were still inactive, adding that the Culture Minister was the “occupying force” in the decision to reopen Trabzon’s mosque.

“We have won the court case regarding the situation,” Ertem said. “We are planning to open the place for prayers again after the necessary processes are completed.”

Ertem refrained from commenting on whether or not the same situation could be said about Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia.

“The Hagia Sofia Mosque in Istanbul is a mosque, and will remain one forever,” Ertem said. “However, we are not the authority [to open the mosque to prayers]. We can only voice the state of it, and the fact that it is accepted as a mosque by everyone, but we cannot decide on it.”

Three citizens living in the northwestern province of Kocaeli recently applied to a parliamentary commission with a request to change the status of Hagia Sophia, attaching a survey of 400 people favoring the active use of the mosque. The application has been taken under consideration by Parliament’s Petition Commission, with several online petitions also lending support, Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday. The commission will be asking for the opinions of the related institutions on the issue.

The Hagia Sophia Museum was first dedicated as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica in 360 A.D. Until the year of 1453 it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople. Following the city’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire, the building was converted into a mosque in 1453 and remained so until 1931, when it was closed to the public for four years. It was reopened by the republican authorities in 1935 as a museum.

February/05/2013

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Peter Lambson

2/17/2013 10:28:13 AM

Is it a Turkish thing or a Muslim thing, this need to convert old churches to mosques? It certainly can't be for a lack of mosques, especially since Erdogan his been in office. Do Turks still feel the need to "conquer" and eradicate any sign of the original Christian, Hellenic, Armenian or Assyrian inhabitants? Does it come from a deep feeling of inferiority that they must eradicate anything non-Turkish or non-Muslim from their midst, or is it just a plain hatred for anything Christian?

Nikos T.

2/6/2013 4:47:13 PM

Once again for many posters this is an "evil Greek" problem. No matter how many years will pass, no matter how many churches will be turned to mosques, everything in these lands will remind you of Greece. You should not be angry. You people are blessed to live in this "country". Regards.

Thessalonian

2/5/2013 9:03:00 PM

"The Hagia Sofia Mosque in Istanbul is a mosque, and will remain one forever,” I strongly disagree with this statement. The Hagia Sofia is not a mosque, it never was a mosque and it will never be a mosque. It is rather a Byzantine era church built and dedicated to the glory of G-d's holy and unlimited wisdom. It will therefore remain as such throughout the ages regardless of how many minaretes one builts around it. Regards

Murat

2/5/2013 8:14:04 PM

Stephen, I would not worry about what the Olympics Committee will think. Greece was able to host Olympics without a single Mosque in Athens in spite of criticism and demands by the committe and many nations. Greek Taliban would have none of it and it in no way interfered with the OC decisions. Thank you for your concern though!

mara mcglothin

2/5/2013 6:39:58 PM

BRIT IN TURKEY You are correct. Turkey has the largest collection of Christian art in the World. There are many that come to see what is left. Very sad really when you think about it. STEPHEN You would think that the Olympic Committee is taking notes on ALL the happenings in Turkey right now.

Brit in Turkey

2/5/2013 6:30:12 PM

Reality Plus: Go to almost any church (or one converted to a mosque) in Turkey and you will see the paintings and mosaics that have been desecrated, usually by wiping out or destroying the heads

Peter Kypros

2/5/2013 6:23:47 PM

Interesting what some people are concerned about. People are getting killed in Turkey, Syria etc, there are people who have no food and shelter and there is no God for them. Where are the representatives of God the merciful to look at these social problems? And why these people feel the need to convert churches into Mosques? Aren't they capable to build their own place for worship and possibly better looking?

Murat

2/5/2013 6:15:48 PM

Good move... why cant all pray there? Our country is cradle of civilzation, this is what it means! One should also not confuse ancient Greeks or Rum, with Yunan of today, different people different cultures.

Stephen Brunette

2/5/2013 6:03:09 PM

I guess the International Olympic Committee and members who will decide where the 2020 Olympic games will be held will have to be notified of this, for if Hagia Sofia in Istanbul is opened again as a mosque, it shows the regressive religious policies of Turkey, and the trampling of the rights of Christians. Right across from Hagia Sofia is already the huge Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque). This act would have no reason to proceed, for as a museum, it was a even and enlightend act by Ataturk.

Mordechai Vanunu

2/5/2013 5:21:41 PM

I ask myself where the wisdom of the mighty Greeks is?

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