Will you support the restauration of Hagia Sophia as an Orthodox church?

[Free_Patriot]

Hello fellows,

My orthodox momy asked me to sign a petition for the restauration of Hagia Sophia as an Orthodox church in Turkey. I personally think it's better off to stay as a museum so we could visit without having to attend a mass or something, not to mention that this move might create similar demands to restaure historic mosques in Spain and Greece for example.

But, I won't say no to my momy . She asked me to share this website with my friends. It's a petition asking the EU to required from Turkey to restaure the church as a condition to join the EU.

Here's the link, a discussion about the issue is also welcome.
http://www.hagiasophiablog.com

Many thanks from my mom.


P.S. The petition is open to all citizens of the world, not only Orthodox people.

[mount_amel]

No way .. never ... Its a symbol more sacered to muslims than chritians.

[LubnanALkawi]

sorry but i think its meaningless because the turkish people will not accept that maybe the governemnt because they will do anything to join the eu

same thing in spain the people and the government will never accept that

[WiseCookie]

Originally Posted by mount_amel

No way .. never ... Its a symbol more sacered to muslims than chritians.

Although I think that the idea is absurd, since it will provoke religous tensions as well as the fact that leaving it as it is right now is the best solution for both sides. I think this statement is absolutely ridiculous. It was a church that turned into a mosque. It was the center of the the eastern roman empire before it got conquered. Then it became a mosque and was supposedly the center for the caliphite, since they believed that the turkish king at the time was the ruler of islamic people ( I might have some facts wrong, but i'm sure about this ). Therefore, assuming that it was the center of the orthodox church FIRST and the center of the muslim caliphite SECOND. How can it be more important to muslims than christians, and what difference does it make if it's more important to mulims than christians or vice versa. It's a historical monument at this moment and let's leave it at that.

[Nour~W~Nar]

Originally Posted by LubnanALkawi

same thing in spain the people and the government will never accept that

This is not true I've been there and every single islamic monuments and mosqs are taken care of thanx to the region, to the spanish state, the european union and many cultural associations !


PS "If you wish to vote, please visit the site again in the near future ...."

[coralie]

Originally Posted by Free_Patriot

Hello fellows,

My orthodox momy asked me to sign a petition for the restauration of Hagia Sophia as an Orthodox church in Turkey. I personally think it's better off to stay as a museum so we could visit without having to attend a mass or something, not to mention that this move might create similar demands to restaure historic mosques in Spain and Greece for example.

But, I won't say no to my momy . She asked me to share this website with my friends. It's a petition asking the EU to required from Turkey to restaure the church as a condition to join the EU.

Here's the link, a discussion about the issue is also welcome.
http://www.hagiasophiablog.com

Many thanks from my mom.


P.S. The petition is open to all citizens of the world, not only Orthodox people.

even if restaured you can always visit without attending a mass , you can do it in notre Dame de paris , in the Duomo of milan in many other old cathedrals and old churches .... where is the problem ?

mount amel
hagia sofia was a church and somehow remain a church as the sultan back then asked to preserve and respect all the aspects of christianity even when it was turned into a mosk , if you had the chance to visit hagia Sofia you will be able to see on the walls the christian fresques that still represents the christ , his apostols , and the virgin Mary . even in the middle front of the church the painting of christ with his arms open is still dominating the sight !!! so i dont think back then it was an offence to the muslims as they used hagia sofia for payers and were not bothered by the presence of those paintings and i dont think they will ever be ! hagia Sofia was burned several times it was restaured many times and visiting this beautiful church is simply a pleasure to the eye !

[Free_Patriot]

Originally Posted by mount_amel

No way .. never ... Its a symbol more sacered to muslims than chritians.

Mount Amel leave me alone man, what are you doing following me to the community forum? (just kidding)

This historical church is no longer a mosque, it's been a museum since 1934. I didn't expect this will create tensions because I am not asking to transform a mosque into a church, but restoring a church from a museum. It's a place of worship, it could either be a mosque or a church, but restoring it back to its original religious role as a church would make more sense. Just take a look at the pictures, it's a church, you can't be mistaken.

Originally Posted by LubnanALkawi

sorry but i think its meaningless because the turkish people will not accept that maybe the governemnt because they will do anything to join the eu

same thing in spain the people and the government will never accept that

This petition is for the government and the bureaucrats of the EU, it's just a petition. It's not a challenge to the Turkish people. Those who don't agree with the petition don't have to sign it.

Originally Posted by WiseCookie

Although I think that the idea is absurd, since it will provoke religous tensions as well as the fact that leaving it as it is right now is the best solution for both sides. I think this statement is absolutely ridiculous. It was a church that turned into a mosque. It was the center of the the eastern roman empire before i got conquered. Then it became a mosque and was supposedly the center for the caliphite, since they believed that the turkish king at the time was the ruler of islamic people ( I might have some facts wrong, but i'm sure about this ). Therefore, assuming that it was the center of the orthodox church FIRST and the center of the muslim caliphite SECOND. How can it be more important to muslims than christians, and what difference does it make if it's more important to mulims than christians or vice versa. It's a historical monument at this moment and let's leave it at that.

WC why is the idea absurd? Right now the place is a museum, why does it have to create religious tensions? The petition is being advocated by Orthodox activists in Lebanon distributing flyers translated to arabic. You guys have to understand that Hagia Sophia is for the Orthodox second in importance after Jerusalem. Do you guys really believe that the Turkish Sultan was a real muslim khalifa?

Originally Posted by coralie

even if restaured you can always visit without attending a mass , you can do it in notre Dame de paris , in the Duomo of milan in many other old cathedrals and old churches .... where is the problem ?

It's true Coralie I was just trying to be funny because personally I am not religious and it won't make a difference to my life if it was a church or a museum. I am doing this for my mother. There is no problem

[WiseCookie]

Originally Posted by Free_Patriot

WC why is the idea absurd? Right now the place is a museum, why does it have to create religious tensions? The petition is being advocated by Orthodox activists in Lebanon distributing flyers translated to arabic. You guys have to understand that Hagia Sophia is for the Orthodox second in importance after Jerusalem. Do you guys really believe that the Turkish Sultan was a real muslim khalifa?

It will create religous tension because at this point Islamic radicalism is on the rise in turkey. The islamic groups have one the elections, and turkey is slowly drifting away from its secularism due to the worsening economical situation. It's not about believing the turkish sultan was the muslim khalifa but we're talking about the historical significance of this monument for the muslims. I'm 1/4 orthodox, so mne2bala minak :D . It's just for the sake of the church. Fanatics are on the rise in turkey and their closed mindedness will certainly not allow such a thing. Another fact is that it still has the muslim pillars, what do u plan to with those ? Should u remove them ? Keeping them would surely be seen as an act of defiance, and remember here we're talking about the uneducated class and even the educated class who take orders solely from their religous figures.

[Free_Patriot]

Originally Posted by WiseCookie

It will create religous tension because at this point Islamic radicalism is on the rise in turkey. The islamic groups have one the elections, and turkey is slowly drifting away from its secularism due to the worsening economical situation. It's not about believing the turkish sultan was the muslim khalifa but we're talking about the historical significance of this monument for the muslims. I'm 1/4 orthodox, so mne2bala minak :D . It's just for the sake of the church. Fanatics are on the rise in turkey and their closed mindedness will certainly not allow such a thing. Another fact is that it still has the muslim pillars, what do u plan to with those ? Should u remove them ? Keeping them would surely be seen as an act of defiance, and remember here we're talking about the uneducated class and even the educated class who take orders solely from their religous figures.

I agree with you not because you're 1/4 orthodox but because all what you said makes sense. You are analysing the issue from a realistic concept. I am looking at the issue from a different angle. I am trying to push for a clear agenda with an action plan to restore the church. We won't accomplish anything if we keep objectively analysing the realistic situation and compromise. The question is, are you with or against restoring the church and why? If not, thank you for your time and merci, if yes, let's try to do it and fail and keep trying. FPM spirit :fpm:

[Kasparov]

Sorry, but i would sign any petition to change any place of worship to a museum or school if anyone is interested :D