Czech-Slovak Church: Situation with Agia Sophia fills Orthodox faithful with grief

Prešov, Slovakia, July 23, 2020

Photo: spzh.news Photo: spzh.news     

The Holy Synod of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia issued a statement on Monday regarding Turkey’s lamentable decision to convert the Agia Sophia Cathedral into a mosque again, noting that the news has filled the Orthodox faithful of the Czech Republic and Slovakia with grief.

The whole world welcomed the gesture of good will of Kemal Ataturk who converted Agia Sophia from a mosque into a museum, while the whole world now laments President Erdoğan’s callous overturning of this decision, the Synod emphasizes.

The Synodal statement, published on the official site of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, reads in full:

The recent decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to change the status of Agia Sophia—the Church of God’s Wisdom in Constantinople (Istanbul)—has filled the believers of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia with grief. This church—one of the most famous buildings of the world, which in its eventful nearly-1,500-year history has served as a Christian basilica, a Muslim mosque and finally a museum—is to become a mosque again after 86 years.

When the president of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk decided to transform Agia Sophia from a mosque to a museum in 1934, the whole world appreciated the welcoming gesture of the Turkish politician as a symbolic end to conflicts and the beginning of the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians.

The reaction of the representatives of Orthodox and other Christian churches, but also the UN, UNESCO and many other organizations and states to the decision of the current Turkish president only confirms how wise and prudent was the decision of his predecessor. We therefore pray to God for the current Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to reconsider his decision and for the status of Agia Sophia as a museum, as acceptable to believers as to secular society, to be maintained.

+ Rastislav
Archbishop of Prešov,
Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia,
President of the Holy Synod

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7/23/2020

See also
Bulgarian Holy Synod weighs in on Agia Sophia Bulgarian Holy Synod weighs in on Agia Sophia Bulgarian Holy Synod weighs in on Agia Sophia Bulgarian Holy Synod weighs in on Agia Sophia
The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued a statement on the recent lamentable events surrounding the Agia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul, joining its voice “in the calls of our sister Local Orthodox Churches.” Erdoğan: first Muslim service to be held in Agia Sophia on July 24 Erdoğan: first Muslim service to be held in Agia Sophia on July 24 Erdoğan: first Muslim service to be held in Agia Sophia on July 24 Erdoğan: first Muslim service to be held in Agia Sophia on July 24
The President posted a photo of the decree on his Twitter account with the words, “with best wishes.” Churches of Jerusalem, Romania, Georgia weigh in on Agia Sophia affair Churches of Jerusalem, Romania, Georgia weigh in on Agia Sophia affair Churches of Jerusalem, Romania, Georgia weigh in on Agia Sophia affair Churches of Jerusalem, Romania, Georgia weigh in on Agia Sophia affair
Following statements from Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill and the Church of Greece, the Patriarchs of the Churches of Jerusalem and Romania and the Patriarchate of Georgia have also raised their voices concerning Turkish officials’ plans to convert the iconic Agia Sophia into a mosque.
Comments
Alexander Leitner7/27/2020 8:15 pm
To "a greek of constantinople": what is the meaning of your posts? The Hagia Sophia is not a greek church but an orthodox one. And ALL ORTHODOX christians around the world are sad because of what happened. Because of your pride you will lose even more. Repent and become humble. You have lost the glory you had once. The more you are filled with pride the more God will put you down to earth. Repent, return to the true orthodox faith and everything will get well. But I think you will not, like most greeks
A Greek of Constantinople.7/24/2020 3:37 am
More 'thoughts and prayers'. Well you have my thoughts and prayers as well for your problems.. what ever they may be.
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