Hagia Sophia: Τhe violation of a symbol

·

By Konstantinos Alexandris

Flipping through an album of travel photos the other day, I recalled lighting a candle at the Taj Mahal a few years after the first Christian Indian Prime Minister decided to grant the temple to the local Church. I admired once again the handmade rugs adorning the floor of the Notre Dame de Paris mosque, which the French government had handed over to the Muslim community in order to save it from decay, as the declining number of Christians attending the service could not cover its maintenance costs. And there was that photo with the stunning minarets of St. Peter’s Mosque at the Vatican that the Muslim local governor of the former city-state decided to add to the building to structurally reinforce it as it was in danger of collapsing! Oh, and that one there, with the Buddhists monks who in recent years have settled at the Buddhist monastery of Masjid Al-Haram, the former Grand Mosque in Mecca, which following that terrible pandemic no longer accepted Muslim pilgrims…

And if all this sounds unrealistic or taken straight out from a science fiction script, then think again, because something along those lines happened a few days ago when the Erdogan government decided to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque, claiming that as such it will not only be preserved, but will also be better protected. After all, as some Turkish officials have pointed out, this was precisely what their Ottoman ancestors had also done, “saving” the magnificent Church from “withering away” (according to the same officials). When, you may ask, did this happen? Well, a mere 6 centuries ago – quite recently in other words! As if the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the industrial revolution and an unprecedented scientific and technological revolution have not taken place in between. But what am I saying? Aren’t they all fraudulent Judeo-Christian conspiracies from which modern Muslim Turkey must “cleanse” itself? The questions are purely rhetorical…

It is quite clear that no logical or plausible excuse could justify the violation of a symbol – because this is exactly what the decision for the conversion of Hagia Sophia amounts to. This is not just contempt for history or UNESCO or an international treaty: it is a violation. Hagia Sophia is not just any church, it is a symbol. It is an emblem of a long historical period, of an entire civilization, just like the Taj Mahal, St. Peter’s, the Parthenon, the Masjid Al-Haram, the Rumi Mausoleum; and turning it into a mosque is an attack on this civilization. But more importantly, it is also an attack against what the modern world now considers its achievements, such as respect for diversity.

What is the purpose of all this? That the Erdogan government confirms, after 6 long centuries, the fall of Constantinople? Does it really feel it needs to? Or to demonstrate perhaps the Islamic domination of the thousand-year-old Christian Eastern Roman Empire? Both incentives lead to a dangerous slippery slope. They add fuel to the fire of nationalism and religious fundamentalism. Is this what the Turkish Government needs right now? Does it need to play to the gallery of those who fantasize about new conquests and throwing enemies into the sea? Or of those who envision the flag of Islam flying in Rome, Cordoba, Vienna and elsewhere? Is this the Turkey it visualises, or the Islam it aspires to lead?

In any case, to every man according to his deeds. Let us bear in mind, however, that symbols, even if damaged, always find ways to retain their shine and magic. If a Greek government in the future decided to turn the Parthenon into a Christian Church, one can be sure that it would not be the Parthenon that would be ridiculed …

In a nutshell, it is obviously a sovereign decision by the Turkish leadership to decide which direction it wants the country to take. But it is also a basic obligation of all others to protect ourselves from policies and actions that threaten to take us back to the distant past.

Read this opinion piece in next Wednesday’s edition of The Greek Herald.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Pope Francis dies aged 88 after 12 years leading the Catholic Church

Pope Francis has died aged 88. His papacy was marked by reform, humility, and efforts to modernise the Catholic Church.

Thousands join Archbishop Makarios of Australia for Resurrection Service in Sydney

Archbishop Makarios led the Holy Saturday Service in Kogarah, Sydney, with thousands of faithful attending the Easter celebration.

Greek Defence Minister Dendias visits Panagia Inousson for Easter

Defence Minister Dendias visits Panagia Inousson for Easter, highlighting Greece’s commitment to border security.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis reflects on faith and resilience in Easter message

Kyriakos Mitsotakis shares his 2025 Easter message, reflecting on global challenges and the enduring hope of the Resurrection.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia issues Easter Message for 2025

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has released his 2025 Easter message, reflecting on the impact of loneliness.

You May Also Like

Greece climbs in the list of the world’s most powerful passports

The Henley Passport Index suggests that the Greek passport is now in the fifth place among the most powerful passports in the world.

Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis dies aged 89

Olympia Dukakis, a character actress who won an Oscar for her role as an overbearing mother in the romantic comedy “Moonstruck,” died Saturday at...

Athens ranked seventh most important global shipping hub

Athens has risen to become the seventh most significant global shipping hub, according to the ISCDI.