Patriarch of Alexandria: Turkey adds a big thorn in the peaceful coexistence of religions

Orthodox times / Patriarchate of Alexandria
 
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon by the Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa expressed his great sorrow over the conversion of the most historical Christian monument of the East, Hagia Sophia, into a mosque.
“Turkey adds another big thorn in the peaceful coexistence of peoples and religions,” said the primate of the African Orthodox Church.

Read the full statement of the Patriarch of Alexandria:

“With great sadness and concern, I was informed of the conversion of the most historical Christian monument in the East, Hagia Sophia, into a mosque.

This challenge shakes things up and muddies, even more, the already troubled waters due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While during this period we must all fight together in harmony against the invisible enemy of the pandemic, Turkey adds another big thorn in the peaceful coexistence of peoples and religions.

While we in Egypt enjoy religious freedom and peaceful coexistence, and our President Sisi daily grants title deeds to our Christian churches, while the political and state authorities of our country freely allow us to operate our churches, to maintain them, to renovate and beautify them, in Turkey we see religious and cultural rights being used for other purposes, and, above all, we see history being altered and a new division is engendered for personal interests.

From the seat of St. Mark, we pray that logic will prevail and that God’s peace will reign over the world!”

The Patriarch of Alexandria discussed the Hagia Sophia with the Greek PM

Orthodox times / Patriarchate of Alexandria

The meeting of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa was completed.
According to government sources, during their meeting they had the opportunity to exchange views on the diverse activity of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate on the African continent, as well as on major current issues, such as the evolution of the pandemic.
The same sources point out that much of the discussion was devoted in the change of the status of Hagia Sophia and its conversion into a mosque, with both sides expressing their disappointment at this decision, which is a blow to the peaceful coexistence of religions and an unprecedented insult to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Government sources added that the Prime Minister praised the activity of the Patriarchate, which, as he characteristically stressed, is worthy of admiration and reiterated the full support of the Greek State in the mission of the Second Throne Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and in its multifaceted work.

Source: ANA-MPA

See also

The Church of Hagia Sophia, the largest church of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, the Christian cathedral of Constantinople, dedicated to the Wisdom of God, the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity (Jesus Christ) – 1453: Being trapped in the church, the many congregants and yet more refugees inside became spoils-of-war to be divided amongst the triumphant invaders – In early July 2020, the Council of State in Turkey ordered the reclassification of Hagia Sophia as a mosque!...