He is the author of Alien Citizens: State and Religious Minorities in Turkey and France (Cambridge University Press, 2019) and a co-author of Generating Generosity in Catholicism and Islam: Beliefs, Institutions and Public Goods Provision (Cambridge University Press, 2018). July 20, 2020, Response: Hagia Sophia, Islamism, and Secularism in Turkey, Ahmet Kuru On behalf of the Greek government, the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, called the decision of the Turkish court a provocation to the civilised world. She also made it clear that she did not want to interfere in the internal politics of the Turkish government, but underlined the unique value and ecumenical nature of the monument for humanity. Finally, she said that the decision revealed the nationalism of the Turkish President and takes his country back six centuries. Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia Saggi in onore di Giuseppe Alberigo,Bologna, il Mulino, 1996, 131-158. The most significant are theDeesis(prayer), where Christ, Our Lady and John the Baptist pray for our salvation, the icons of the Virgin Mary and the archangel Gabriel, and those of saints, emperors and empresses, and various floral and geometric motifs in a decorative style. Theres an on-site restaurant and bar serving Turkish and international cuisine. July 13, 2020. Another would be reopening the Halki Seminary, a Christian school of theology that opened in 1844 under Ottoman auspices, went victim to secular nationalism in 1971, but is still closed despite all the calls from advocates for religious freedom. I luoghi delle origini cristiane,op. Erdogan had proposed restoring the UNESCO World Heritage site into a mosque, placing the almost 1,500-year-old building at the center of a struggle between those who want to preserve Turkeys secular roots and the presidents aspirations. The Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul is a collection of individual mansions offering a prime location for exploring Istanbuls most iconic landmarks. More broadly, the Hagia Sophia controversy is part and parcel of the changing relationship between religion and nationalism in Turkey under the ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalknma Partisi). Here are some tips. It has had several names over time, including the ancient name of Byzantium. Sunni Muslims have numerous places of worship at their disposal and right next door is the beautiful Blue Mosque., This is confirmed by the editorial of the GermanTagespostof July 11, 2020: The debates on the status of Hagia Sophia are not about pastoral needs, but about symbolic and identity politics, sovereignty over culture and history. [22]. The recent decision by the Turkish government to reconvert the majestic Hagia Sophia, which was once the worlds greatest cathedral, from a museum back to a mosque has been bad news for Christians around the world. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Over the years, silently and without causing a stir, it has become a symbol of fraternity in the heart of Istanbul, a sacred space for everyone: Christians, Muslims, religious and non-believers, for anyone who believes in the dialogue between West and East, the encounter of cultures, spirituality and diversity. The Council of Churches of the Middle East reads in the move a hard blow to the dialogue between Islam and Christianity. Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the world's great monuments. Questions as to how the Hagia Sophia relates to religious identity, domestic and foreign politics, and Turkish secularism remain central in light of its conversion from museum to mosque. A. Lomonaco B. Capelli, Dieci anni fa veniva ucciso monsignor Padovese, vescovo del dialogo, inVatican News, June 2, 2020. Now, the Hagia Sophia enters a new phase of its history and will soon host religious services in addition to welcoming visitors, taking on a status similar to the Notre Dame Cathedral or Sacr-Cur Basilica in Paris. The basilica built in the sixth century in honour of Christ the Saviour enchanted with its beauty the envoys of Prince Vladimir, to the point that the prince, after listening to their story, received baptism and baptised the Rus, starting Christian civilisation in the country. Finally, he recalled that, with bitterness and indignation, the Russian people have responded in the past and now respond to any attempt to degrade or trample on the ancient spiritual heritage of the Church of Constantinople. He hoped for a rethink on the part of Turkish leaders, since maintaining Hagia Sophias up until then neutral status would facilitate the further development of relations between the peoples of Russia and Turkey and [] peace and interreligious harmony.[12]. This is especially so because the conversion of places of worship is an unsettled issue in Islamic law, as Mustafa Akyol surveys in his recent New York Times piece. If its over-the-top luxury youre after, read our review of the opulent Raan Palace in Istanbul. They were impressed with the imprint of both Christian and Muslim history on the iconic structure. At Smarthistory we believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. New arts hub is taking root in an industrial Istanbul neighbourhood, Istanbul ferries will now run during the night at weekends, New natural sites have been added to Unescos World Heritage List, Mausoleums, mosques and markets uncovering the amazing architecture of Mughal India, 7 years walking the world: what the ultimate slow travel trip taught me about life. centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world. There is no need to be secular anymore.''. The World Council of Churches has called on Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reverse his decision to turn the celebrated Hagia Sophia . Ali Yaycolu Imam Magliana: Santa Sofia? Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic in the 20th century, it was turned into a museum that attracts millions of tourists each year. After the original church that stood on the site since the fourth century burned down twice, Byzantine Emperor Justinian I commanded the construction of an immense and opulent replacement: Hagia Sophia. July 20, 2020 Hagia Sophia: From Ancient Church to Mosque. Does he want to oppose Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates and Egypt, as a defender of Islam in the third millennium, converting Hagia Sophia to mosque again? Perhaps because of this, I chose a picture of Hagia Sophia as the cover of my book in which I discussed the status of Christians in Turkey and Muslims in France. Also, some of the Christian mosaics and frescoes featuring religious characters are covered in drapes. The conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a museum originally was part of a broader effort by Ataturks government to secularize the country. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the Hagia Sophia in 2018. It was transformed into a mosque in 1511 and then into a museum by Atatrk in 1945. The prayer was led by the imam, who climbed the steps of theminbarand delivered the Friday sermon, holding an Ottoman sword with his left hand, which seemed to be that of Muhammad II. The move undermines Islams legacy of tolerance toward minorities. Patricia Blessing On Sunday, July 12, International Day of the Sea, at theAngelusPope Francis said: The sea takes my thoughts a little farther, to Istanbul. By Giancarlo Pani SJ. [14]. 10 art. Second, the majority of Muslim minorities do not live in democratic Western countries, and living in a secular democracy in itself is not sufficient for protection. New arts hub is taking root in an industrial Istanbul neighbourhoodIstanbul ferries will now run during the night at weekendsNew natural sites have been added to Unescos World Heritage ListMausoleums, mosques and markets uncovering the amazing architecture of Mughal India. Hagia Sophia: All Your Questions About This Iconic Monument, Answered Ad Feedback Video Ad. As part of the conversion, the Ottomans covered many of the . The beautiful Christian mosaics inside were plastered over or removed. [21]. But some Muslims, including myself, are not fully comfortable with this historic step, and for a good reason: forced conversion of shrines, which has occurred too many times in human history in all directions, can be questioned even from a purely Islamic point of view. They are not necessarily the official views of the Diocese of Parramatta. The city, which had been ruled by Roman Christians for centuries, had been taken by Muslims after a long and bloody siege. If the conquest of Constantinople represented the end of the so-called Symphony between Church and Empire, the sultans put into effect the legal statute ofMillet(with thedhimmifor those who pay taxes). Reproduced with permission of La Civilt Cattolica. [4]. Beginning with the episode of Caliph Omar who, when he entered Jerusalem and was offered the opportunity to pray in a church, refused out of respect for the Christian faithful.[15]. Does he want to use Hagia Sophia as a place of prayer? As a believing Muslim he considers the conqueror Muhammad II as the founder, Constantinople the capital of the Ottomans, and Hagia Sophia as the imperial mosque." The problem is much wider. [20]It implies that the religious leader in the specific case, the Patriarch of Constantinople, elected by the Synod, but confirmed by the Sultan is the guarantor of Christian obedience. For more information read our privacy policy. Explore Turkey's Artistic Side at This Rural Arthouse Retreat, Download the Just like in Barcelonas Sagrada Familia and the Vaticans St. Peters Basilica, there is a dress code to adhere to in order to enter this religious building. Yet Islam was becoming the religion of an empire, which, like all empires, had to justify its appetite for hegemony. The latter is a bitter fact of history, like Christian imperialism or nationalism, which have targeted our mosques and even lives as well from Cordoba to Srebrenica. R. Cristiano, Quel che lEuropa distratta non capisce di Santa Sofia, inReset. Soon after the decision, state media broadcast video of crowds gathering outside the the sixth-century structure. Soon, some jurists found an excuse to overcome the Jerusalem model: There, Christians were given full security, because they had ultimately agreed on a peaceful surrender. So, if we Muslims really want to revive something from the past, lets focus on the model initiated by the Prophet and implemented by Caliph Umar. Figures such as Sayyid M. Syeed, president of the Islamic Society North America, found the move un-Islamic and counterproductive to Muslim interests globally. Mehmet the Conqueror took the holy city with his sword, he always wanted Hagia Sophia to be a mosque, Ozlem Kaya, 52, a homemaker from Istanbul, said ahead of the decision, referring to the 15th-century Ottoman sultan who captured the city, then known as Constantinople. Figures such as Sayyid M. Syeed, president of the Islamic Society North America, found the move un-Islamic and counterproductive to Muslim interests globally. This involved a limited decentralisation for religious groups, in particular the Greek Orthodox. Would the Prophet Muhammad Convert Hagia Sophia? - The New York Times In a televised address to the nation, Erdogan said the first prayers inside Hagia Sofia would be held on July 24. Sinem Adar, Does Re-Converting Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Violate Secularism in Turkey? Revanche sur le trait de Svres,op. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul's Hagia Sophia a mosque on Friday with the first Muslim prayers to begin in two weeks, after a top court ruled the ancient. Hagia Sophia has been converted back into a mosque, but the veiling of What you need to know before your visit to Hagia Sophia, Airbnbs in Istanbul to experience the best of the city, How To Explore Istanbuls Hippest, Most Creative Neighborhoods. Christians feared a massacre, but instead found aman, or safety. Since assuming power, Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, have made Turkey more religious and conservative, including by relaxing strict secular laws that barred women from wearing Islamic headscarves in schools and public offices. Hagia Sophia is a 30-minute walk away from the famous Galata Bridge, and just 15 minutes away from the citys notorious Grand Bazaar.
Virginia Dd Waiver Rates 2023, Where Is We Got Nuts Located, Articles H