Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia condemns conversion of Hagia Sophia into Mosque

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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia have released a statement on the decision to convert Hagia Sophia to a Mosque, denouncing the Turkish President’s actions.

The Archdiocese called the decision “unfair” and shows “disrespect to the memory of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk.

“This decision is a sacrilege in a monument of world cultural heritage, which is also a global symbol of the Orthodox Church and Christianity”.

“Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole world.”

Read the full statement translated to English below:

With deepest sorrow and pain of soul, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, together with the God-loving Bishops of Australia, all the clergy, the monastic brotherhoods and the hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Christian faithful in the Fifth Continent and all of Oceania learned of the unnecessary decision, by the President of Turkey, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to convert Hagia Sophia into an Islamic Temple.

Unfortunately, certain decisions, while for some may seem courageous, in reality represent small-mindedness, resentment, intolerance and religious fanaticism. It is for this reason that they are recorded in history with dark letters. This decision is unjust primarily for the people of Turkey and their future, but it also proves disrespectful to the memory of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Ataturk.

This decision constitutes sacrilege to a monument of world cultural heritage, which represents, at the same time, a global symbol of the Orthodox Church and Christianity. Hagia Sophia belongs to the whole world.

For us Orthodox Christians, Hagia Sophia will continue to be an eternal symbol. We continue to sing, “To you, my Champion and Commander” and spiritually make our pilgrimage to Hagia Sophia. We close our eyes and feel the first dome of human history covering the entire universe. No one can erase the truth and historical reality.

We pray and believe that injustice will soon be restored before history and humanity.

Read the full statement in Greek below:

Με βαθύτατη θλίψη και πόνο ψυχής ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αυστραλίας κ.κ. Μακάριος, οι Θεοφιλέστατοι Επίσκοποι της Αυστραλίας, όλος ο κλήρος, οι μοναστικές αδελφότητες και οι εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες Ορθοδόξων πιστών στην πέμπτη Ήπειρο και σε όλη την Ωκεανία πληροφορηθήκαμε την, άνευ αναγκαιότητας, απόφαση του Προέδρου της Τουρκίας κ. Ρετζέπ Ταγίπ Ερντογάν, να μετατρέψει την Αγία Σοφία, σε μουσουλμανικό Τέμενος.

Δυστυχώς, κάποιες αποφάσεις, ενώ για ορισμένους φαίνονται γενναίες, στην πραγματικότητα αποδεικνύουν μικροψυχία, εμπάθεια, μισαλλοδοξία και θρησκευτικό φανατισμό, γι᾽ αυτό και γράφονται στην ιστορία με μαύρα γράμματα. Η απόφαση αυτή είναι άδικη πρωτίστως για το λαό της Τουρκίας και το μέλλον του, ενώ αποδεικνύει ασέβεια στη μνήμη του ιδρυτού της Τουρκικής Δημοκρατίας Κεμάλ Ατατούρκ.

Η απόφαση αυτή συνιστά ιεροσυλία σε ένα μνημείο παγκόσμιας πολιτισμικής κληρονομιάς, το οποίο παράλληλα αποτελεί και παγκόσμιο σύμβολο της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας και του Χριστιανισμού. Η Αγία Σοφία ανήκει σε όλο τον κόσμο.

Για μας τους Ορθοδόξους Χριστιανούς η Αγία Σοφία θα συνεχίσει να είναι ένα αιώνιο σύμβολο. Ψάλλομε το “Τη Υπερμάχω” και νοερώς κάνουμε το προσκύνημά μας στην Αγία Σοφία. Κλείνουμε τα μάτια μας και αισθανόμαστε τον πρώτο τρούλο της ανθρώπινης ιστορίας να σκεπάζει όλη την οικουμένη. Κανείς δεν μπορεί να διαγράψει την αλήθεια και την ιστορική πραγματικότητα.

Προσευχόμαστε και πιστεύομε ότι σύντομα θα αποκατασταθεί η αδικία ενώπιον της ιστορίας και της ανθρωπότητας.

Εκ της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αυστραλίας

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