The news is that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has turned the Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque, in defiance of the wishes of the rest of the non-Islamic world. In doing so, non-Muslims will no longer be able to visit the Hagia Sophia.
Keep in mind that the Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Christian Cathedral from 537 to 1054, Greek Orthodox Cathedral from 1054 to 1204, Roman Catholic Cathedral from 1204 to 1261, and a Greek Orthodox Cathedral from 1261 to 1453. After 1453 is was a mosque until 1935 under the Ottoman Empire.
I think it is time that we repatriate the lands east of the Straight of Bosphorus back to Christendom, make Istanbul Constantinople again, and make the Hagia Sophia a church and museum for the world to enjoy.
Europe could do with a little bit of reconquista.
You sure they’re barring Christian visitors? The Blue Mosque next door is open to tourists.
My biggest concern is with the art inside the Hagia Sophia. The historical Turks took the attitude that so long as they couldn’t see it during prayers, it was OK — and just plastered over what they could see. The new Islamist Turks are much more… Arabic… in their religion approach, I fear. They may decide to destroy everything “unIslamic”, from the Viking graffiti in the gallery to the mosaic of Constantine and Justinian giving gifts to Christ.
I honestly wouldn’t be upset if the Russians just decide to neutron bomb Istanbul and take it for themselves.
Given the increasing influence and growth of the Orthodox Church in Russia, it wouldn’t shock me if the two countries did wind up eventually warring over this. Seriously.
Let the Russians flex their muscles against the Turks. It wouldn’t be the first time that has happened in history.
If you haven’t seen it, check this out:
https://youtu.be/9KOCkjEjFhw
There are even people in other areas of Orthodoxy who seem to think this move with the Hagia Sophia might be enough to push Russia to attack Turkey.