Erdogan personally checks Hagia Sophia's conversion into a mosque
Erdogan personally checked how Hagia Sophia is being converted into a mosque. Photo: britannica.com
On July 19, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Hagia Sophia to check how the process of its transformation into a mosque is going, Interfax reports.
Photos of this visit were published by the Turkish leader’s administration.
Preparatory work is being done inside the Cathedral: special means will be installed in Hagia Sophia to cover the icons during prayers, and carpets will be placed on the floor.
The first Muslim service is expected to be held on July 24, with nearly 500 people taking part in it. It has not yet been announced whether the President of Turkey will be among the worshipers.
As reported by the UOJ, the EU spokesman Josep Borrell said earlier: the EU considers the decision of the Turkish authorities to convert Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum into a mosque “regrettable”.
Read also
UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary
Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.