The 2020 reconversion of the Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has generated extensive controversy, rooted in the site's profound historical, religious, and cultural significance, as well as its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 .

Originally constructed as a Byzantine cathedral in 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia served as the central church of Eastern Orthodox Christianity for nearly a millennium before its conversion into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 .

In 1935, under the secular reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it was transformed into a museum, symbolizing a shared heritage of Christian and Islamic histories and religious coexistence .

This layered history has made the Hagia Sophia a powerful symbol of multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue, and its reconversion has been widely criticized for undermining this legacy .

**Religious Undertones and Criticism:** The reconversion has been condemned by numerous religious communities and international organizations for its perceived prioritization of Islamic heritage over the site's Christian past .

The Greek Orthodox Church described the decision as "ill-advised," asserting that it contradicts Turkey's commitment to religious tolerance and freedom .

Scholars such as Dr.

Özgür Kaymak have argued that the move implies a religious hierarchy favoring Islam, marginalizing the Christian narratives historically associated with the Hagia Sophia .

The covering of Christian mosaics and icons within the Hagia Sophia has further fueled concerns that this act erases the multicultural and multi-religious history of Turkey in favor of a singular Islamic narrative .

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate have highlighted that the Turkish government's actions reflect a broader disregard for Turkey's Orthodox Christian heritage .

Internationally, the U.S.

State Department and other observers have expressed concerns that the move disregards the rich Orthodox Christian heritage of the Hagia Sophia and threatens religious freedoms of minority communities in Turkey .

UNESCO has also voiced apprehensions, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Hagia Sophia's universal value as a World Heritage Site and warning that the change in status could affect the site's integrity and its role as a symbol of dialogue between cultures and religions .

**Political Motivations and Criticism:** Erdoğan’s decision is widely interpreted as a politically motivated move aimed at consolidating support among conservative, Islamist, and nationalist segments of Turkish society, particularly amid economic challenges and declining popularity .

Analysts suggest that the reconversion serves as a diversion from domestic challenges such as economic difficulties and political dissent, and is part of a broader strategy to reinforce Islamic identity and nationalism in Turkey .

The timing of the conversion, shortly after significant electoral defeats for Erdoğan's party, has raised questions about whether the move was intended to distract from pressing political issues .

Erdoğan himself has framed the reconversion as a "glorious chapter" in Turkish history, emphasizing its importance to the Islamic community and portraying it as a reclamation of Turkish identity and heritage .

Critics argue that this act signals a departure from the secular principles established by Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and as prioritizing the Islamic past over the multicultural and multi-faith legacy the Hagia Sophia represents .

**International and Domestic Reactions:** The reconversion has drawn widespread condemnation from international bodies, governments, and religious organizations .

The Greek government and the Greek Orthodox Church have been particularly vocal, viewing the decision as an affront to Christian heritage and a threat to the religious freedom of Christian minorities in Turkey .

State Department and UNESCO have expressed concerns that the reconversion undermines Turkey’s commitment to religious tolerance and freedom, and could exacerbate tensions between religious communities in a historically diverse region .

UNESCO specifically emphasized the need to preserve the Hagia Sophia's historical integrity and universal value as a World Heritage Site .

The move has also raised diplomatic tensions, particularly with Greece, which regards the Hagia Sophia as a critical part of its cultural heritage and condemned the move as provocative, potentially straining bilateral relations and regional stability .

**Public Protests and Local Community Sentiment:** Following the announcement, protests erupted both within Turkey and internationally.

Demonstrators—including secularists, religious minorities, cultural heritage advocates, and Christians who feel marginalized—argued that the Hagia Sophia should remain a museum to symbolize shared heritage rather than exclusive worship .

These protests reflect broader concerns about religious freedom, minority rights, and the secular principles of the Turkish Republic .

Within Turkey, public opinion is divided.

Many support the reconversion as a restoration of the Hagia Sophia's original purpose as a mosque and a source of national pride, while others fear it signals a decline in secularism and an increase in religious conservatism .

This division reflects broader societal tensions over the role of religion in public life and governance .

**Impact on Tourism, Accessibility, and Local Economy:** The reconversion has significant implications for tourism and the local economy in Istanbul.

The Hagia Sophia remains a major tourist attraction, but the shift in its status has led to mixed reactions from visitors, particularly those from Western countries who may view the change unfavorably .

Since the reconversion, the site has received approximately 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, but this influx has raised concerns about the structural integrity of the building, with reports of falling fragments from the dome due to humidity created by large crowds .

Experts have warned that the large number of visitors could lead to catastrophic structural failures if not managed properly, prompting calls for urgent restoration and improved visitor management policies .

In response, the Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy, including charging foreign tourists an entrance fee starting January 15, 2024, and restricting access for non-Muslim visitors to upper levels while the main floor is reserved for Muslim worshippers .

These changes have raised concerns about accessibility for non-Muslim visitors and the potential negative impact on tourism, which is a vital sector for Istanbul’s economy and for tour guides who rely on visitors to this iconic site .

**Preservation and UNESCO Concerns:** UNESCO has expressed concern about the implications of the reconversion for the site's status and preservation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its universal cultural value .

The increased foot traffic has led to damage, including falling fragments from the dome, and experts have called for immediate restoration efforts to prevent further deterioration .

The covering of Christian mosaics and artworks to accommodate Islamic worship has also raised alarms about the preservation of the site's Christian heritage .

**Diplomatic Considerations for Tour Guides:** For tour guides, addressing tourists' concerns about the Hagia Sophia's reconversion requires sensitivity and factual clarity.

Emphasizing the site's rich and complex history—as a Byzantine cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, and a museum—can help contextualize the reconversion .

Highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the issue may ease concerns among visitors, especially those from Western countries who might be upset by the change [a1b2c3d

The 2020 reconversion of the Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has generated extensive controversy, rooted in the site's profound historical, religious, and cultural significance, as well as its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 .

Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

Title:

Content: 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots: 31 accused summoned for hate speech

Eight people, including a woman, were killed and at least 20 others were injured in Kutba after a mob attacked the village on September 8, 2013.
AGRA: Almost a decade after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots violence, as many as 31 people allegedly involved in the killings of eight villagers at Kutba have been ordered to appear before the sessions court on December 20.
They were accused of delivering hate speeches that fanned the simmering tension in the village which comes under Shahpur police station in Muzaffarnagar district.
Following the "Kutba killings", police had booked 31 people under the IPC sections of 302 (murder) and 153A (promoting enmity) among others, and had submitted a charge-sheet in 2014 under all sections except 153A. The accused were thereafter arrested and sent to jail.
District government counsel, Rajeev Sharma said, "The accused, currently on bail, were already being tried under murder and other charges. However, trial proceedings under section 153A require permission from the state. Due to procedural matters, it took time. The court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) in Muzaffarnagar issued a warrant and the 31 accused appeared before it earlier this week. The CJM court has now handed over the case of 153A to additional district and sessions judge and clubbed this particular section along with the section of murder. The trial in the hate speech case will also start now."
Eight people, including a woman, were killed and at least 20 others were injured in Kutba after a mob attacked the village on September 8, 2013. Several houses were torched and the Army had to be deployed in the village.
The killings in Kutba occurred after the murder of three youngsters. Provocative speeches were also given during a panchayat in Nagla Mandaud on September 7, 2013. The subsequent violence in parts of the district led to one of the worst-ever communal riots in UP, claiming at least 60 lives and displacing around 50,000 people.
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Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Originally constructed as a Byzantine cathedral in 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia served as the central church of Eastern Orthodox Christianity for nearly a millennium before its conversion into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 .

Title:

Content: As we have informed, today a group of protesters led by RPA Vice President Armen Ashotyan carried out awareness-raising activities in the center. Ashotyan had initiated a city tour. A whole police unit was gathered near the cascade, and when he got there, Ashotyan urged the protesters not to leave the group, because they could kidnap a man with two handwritings.

Seeing that the red berets were approaching them, Ashotyan, in the tone of a guide, offered the protesters to drink water from a nearby fountain and continue the tour. However, the police immediately started arresting him. Ashotyan was shouting. “Yesterday they did not allow flowers to be laid at the Genocide Memorial, today they are in a vile form.” He did not have time to finish his speech, the police caught him. Ashotyan was shouting. “People were drinking water, you are suffocating.”

Ashotyan was detained, “I have honor” MP Tigran Abrahamyan offered the police to take him, but they abstained. According to Tigran Abrahamyan, impudence is happening. “During the day, the Vaheghazaryans gather people from the sidewalks without giving them time. The police are violating the law as much as they can, and the police officers who serve them will be held accountable for this. ”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

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Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

In 1935, under the secular reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it was transformed into a museum, symbolizing a shared heritage of Christian and Islamic histories and religious coexistence .

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

This layered history has made the Hagia Sophia a powerful symbol of multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue, and its reconversion has been widely criticized for undermining this legacy .

Title:

Content: The Sign of Pastoral Success

Share:
Church attendance numbers matter. But they don't determine success. Faithfulness does. Let us be faithful, my fellow pastor, by His grace and for His glory. And let's remind ourselves frequently that success is being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to us, in good times and bad.

In 1987, when I first became the pastor of Wheelersburg Baptist Church in rural southern Ohio, there was a sign hanging in the auditorium that recorded the church’s attendance and giving. As a pastor, you’ve probably seen such a sign. You may even have one in the church where you serve. They were all over Appalachia at the time.

In many churches, for all practical purposes, this sign is the most important symbol in the room, rivaling even the cross hanging up front. The sign often represents what matters most. Numbers. And specifically, increasing numbers.

When the numbers go up, it means we are successful. When they fall, it means we’re not successful.

We live in a success-oriented society. Sadly, we often define success in the church more by what “the sign” says than God’s Word.

Liberating ministry from the success syndrome

As a young pastor many years ago, I found great encouragement in Kent Hughes’ book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome (Tyndale House Publishers). This book remains must-read material for a shepherd. Hughes includes the following insightful quote, taken from Chuck Colson’s monthly newsletter for Prison Fellowship, Jubilee:

By the time you read this, we will have dedicated our new national offices near Washington, D.C. As a result of this and other recent expansions, many people have written me to the effect that ‘God is obviously blessing Prison Fellowship’s ministry.’
As much as I am sincerely certain that God is, indeed, blessing us, I believe even more certainly that it’s a dangerous and misguided policy to measure God’s blessing by standards of visible, tangible, material’ success.’
The inference is that when things are prospering ‘God is blessing us’ and, conversely, when things are going poorly, or unpublicized, God’s blessing is not upon the work or is unimportant…We must continuously use the measure of our obedience to the guidelines of His Word as the real—and only—standard of our ‘success,’ not some more supposedly tangible or glamorous scale (pp. 37-38).

It’s not just pastors who struggle with the success syndrome, either. The brothers and sisters we shepherd face this battle as well. It shows up in how they assess their families, work, and church ministry.

Taking pastoral inventory

Think back to the ministry you did in the past year. Were you successful? Perhaps you taught a Sunday School class. Every week you spent several hours studying the Word of God, preparing a lesson, praying for your students, sending them notes of encouragement, and perhaps visiting them to pray with them. And what was the outcome of all this effort?

Your class grew by 25%, and people sent encouraging notes to express appreciation. Does that mean you were successful?

On the other hand, perhaps your class declined by 25%, and there was very little expressed appreciation. Does that mean you were unsuccessful?

Be careful. There can be a lot of reasons for the Sunday School’s growth and the lack of growth. Perhaps a year ago, a sister church closed its doors, and people from that church trickled into your class and caused your attendance to go up. Does that mean you were successful?

Or this past year, you engaged in the ministry of admonishing, as the passage you were teaching said you must do. And so, you lovingly challenged some of your class members, one on one, to deal with particular sin issues. And they resisted. They didn’t send cards of appreciation. They even stopped coming. Does that mean you were unsuccessful?

Perhaps you lead a children’s ministry. Every week you invest a lot of time loving the little ones. You’re on your knees for them in your prayer closet. You have them over to your house for game nights. You write letters to their parents to encourage them. You go with them, visit their friends, and invite them to learn about Jesus.

The results? In the past year, they definitely loved the games, but when you gave the lesson, it seemed like they weren’t even listening. And it was rare to see them attend two weeks in a row. Or perhaps they did come regularly and listened well, and you were privileged to witness three of them make professions of faith in Christ. Does the former mean you were unsuccessful, and the latter mean you were successful?

Perhaps your ministry oversees the greeting team, provides quality care in the nursery, or mobilizes Christ-honoring care for shut-ins. The question is, what’s the measuring stick to know whether you did a good job or if you were successful?

A Biblical understanding of success

We need a biblical understanding of success, which Paul provides in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Let’s consider carefully how Paul himself processed the question of success.

He’s quite pastoral as he shares these words in verses 1-2:

So according to Paul, what is success? He says success is being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted us. Success, at its core, is faithfulness.

That’s certainly helpful, but it raises another vital question. What is faithfulness? Some say the Cleveland Browns have faithful fans (I’m one of them) because they remain loyal to their team one losing season after another. Is that what faithfulness is, just hanging in there through the tough times? That may be part of it, but it’s not what Paul has in mind.

Biblical faithfulness is not natural but supernatural

Faithfulness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22. It comes from God through the merit of His faithful Son, who reproduces His faithfulness in those who abide in Him (John 15:4). This means an unregenerate person cannot exhibit the kind of faithfulness that people indwelt by the Spirit of God can exhibit.

To be faithful means “to be full of faith,” for our faith plugs us into Christ and His power. Christ enables us to be as He was and is “trustworthy, dependable, reliable,” no matter what is happening (or not happening) around us.

Take a close look at the following definition of success. Your longevity in ministry is at stake.

Fellow servants, we were successful in our ministries last year if we were faithful. According to Paul, success has little to do with what we can see. This is why he says in verse 3, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”

This is the truth. We can’t determine success. We don’t see enough to make that assessment. Paul says in verse 4, “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.”

Only the Lord can make an accurate assessment of our ministry. And He will do that, says Paul in verse 5, when He comes again and “brings to light the things now hidden in darkness… Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

What about the numbers?

It’s not that numbers don’t matter. There is a book in our Bible called Numbers. And the book of Acts records the number of people God saved and added to His church. Numbers are important. Numbers can be a helpful indicator.

Declining numbers may indicate that we’re not doing the work of the ministry as we ought. Ministry is a work, and we may need to work harder or smarter. Perhaps the numbers are saying that we’re not inviting our neighbors into our homes for Bible studies, that we’re not a welcoming church, or that we’re not being faithful.

On the other hand, declining numbers may indicate that we are being faithful, that we’re doing the work of the ministry, and that we’re seeking to make solid disciples rather than settling for emotional decisions. It is this commitment to do ministry by the Book that has caused some people to leave.

Growing numbers may indicate faithfulness, too, that we are taking evangelism seriously and that God is saving people and adding them to our number. Or those increasing numbers may indicate that we are merely transferring sheep from other churches.

So, the numbers matter. But they don’t determine success. Faithfulness does. And faithfulness is something that God alone can produce. And when He does, He deserves all the glory.

Let us be faithful, my fellow pastor, by His grace and for His glory. And let’s remind ourselves frequently that success is being a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to us, in good times and bad.

Action Plan – Where to go next?

Here are a couple suggestions.

  • Memorize promises of God found in Scripture that deal with hardship. Start with 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 6:9, or Hebrews 6:10. If we’re going to minister for the long haul, we must learn and live by the promises of God rather than our feelings, especially during seasons of trial.
  •  Write down this sentence, put it in a prominent place (it’s under the glass on my desk), and shepherd the church in light of its truth:

I’m indebted to my friend Randy Patten (President of Team Focus Ministries) for this ministry-saving counsel.

Related:

What Makes a Pastor Successful

Dealing with Unmet Expectations…By Giving Thanks

Learning to See Thorns as God Sees Them: The Stewardship of Suffering

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Church

Pastoral Care and Discipleship in a Time of Crisis

Christians have been here before, and we can take comfort and wisdom from the actions of those who faced these kinds of things well. During the first 100 years or so of the early church, there are letters written by Roman governors during times of plague talking about the behavior of this strange new group of people, Christians.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

**Religious Undertones and Criticism:** The reconversion has been condemned by numerous religious communities and international organizations for its perceived prioritization of Islamic heritage over the site's Christian past .

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Content: As we have informed, today a group of protesters led by RPA Vice President Armen Ashotyan carried out awareness-raising activities in the center. Ashotyan had initiated a city tour. A whole police unit was gathered near the cascade, and when he got there, Ashotyan urged the protesters not to leave the group, because they could kidnap a man with two handwritings.

Seeing that the red berets were approaching them, Ashotyan, in the tone of a guide, offered the protesters to drink water from a nearby fountain and continue the tour. However, the police immediately started arresting him. Ashotyan was shouting. “Yesterday they did not allow flowers to be laid at the Genocide Memorial, today they are in a vile form.” He did not have time to finish his speech, the police caught him. Ashotyan was shouting. “People were drinking water, you are suffocating.”

Ashotyan was detained, “I have honor” MP Tigran Abrahamyan offered the police to take him, but they abstained. According to Tigran Abrahamyan, impudence is happening. “During the day, the Vaheghazaryans gather people from the sidewalks without giving them time. The police are violating the law as much as they can, and the police officers who serve them will be held accountable for this. ”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

According to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, the reproduction of excerpts from news materials should not reveal a significant part of the news material. When reproducing excerpts from news materials on the site, it is mandatory to mention the name of the media outlet in the title of the excerpt, as well as to place an active link to the site.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Greek Orthodox Church described the decision as "ill-advised," asserting that it contradicts Turkey's commitment to religious tolerance and freedom .

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Scholars such as Dr.

Scholars such as Dr.

Scholars such as Dr.

Özgür Kaymak have argued that the move implies a religious hierarchy favoring Islam, marginalizing the Christian narratives historically associated with the Hagia Sophia .

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The covering of Christian mosaics and icons within the Hagia Sophia has further fueled concerns that this act erases the multicultural and multi-religious history of Turkey in favor of a singular Islamic narrative .

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate have highlighted that the Turkish government's actions reflect a broader disregard for Turkey's Orthodox Christian heritage .

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Internationally, the U.S.

Internationally, the U.S.

State Department and other observers have expressed concerns that the move disregards the rich Orthodox Christian heritage of the Hagia Sophia and threatens religious freedoms of minority communities in Turkey .

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

UNESCO has also voiced apprehensions, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Hagia Sophia's universal value as a World Heritage Site and warning that the change in status could affect the site's integrity and its role as a symbol of dialogue between cultures and religions .

**Political Motivations and Criticism:** Erdoğan’s decision is widely interpreted as a politically motivated move aimed at consolidating support among conservative, Islamist, and nationalist segments of Turkish society, particularly amid economic challenges and declining popularity .

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Content: As we have informed, today a group of protesters led by RPA Vice President Armen Ashotyan carried out awareness-raising activities in the center. Ashotyan had initiated a city tour. A whole police unit was gathered near the cascade, and when he got there, Ashotyan urged the protesters not to leave the group, because they could kidnap a man with two handwritings.

Seeing that the red berets were approaching them, Ashotyan, in the tone of a guide, offered the protesters to drink water from a nearby fountain and continue the tour. However, the police immediately started arresting him. Ashotyan was shouting. “Yesterday they did not allow flowers to be laid at the Genocide Memorial, today they are in a vile form.” He did not have time to finish his speech, the police caught him. Ashotyan was shouting. “People were drinking water, you are suffocating.”

Ashotyan was detained, “I have honor” MP Tigran Abrahamyan offered the police to take him, but they abstained. According to Tigran Abrahamyan, impudence is happening. “During the day, the Vaheghazaryans gather people from the sidewalks without giving them time. The police are violating the law as much as they can, and the police officers who serve them will be held accountable for this. ”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

According to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, the reproduction of excerpts from news materials should not reveal a significant part of the news material. When reproducing excerpts from news materials on the site, it is mandatory to mention the name of the media outlet in the title of the excerpt, as well as to place an active link to the site.

Title:

Content: Contact Us

Erdoğan's visit to Iraq to have meaning for Muslims: Descendant of Iraqi Sufi leader

According to a descendant of an Iraqi Sufi leader from 1,000 years ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming trip to Iraq holds significant importance for both the Muslim community and the mausoleum in Baghdad where Abdul-Qadir Gilani passed away in 1166.

Anadolu Agency ISLAMIC WORLD
Published April 09,2024
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A descendant of an Iraqi Sufi leader who lived nearly a millennium ago said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's upcoming visit to Iraq would have great meaning for local Muslims as well as for the mausoleum in Baghdad of Abdul-Qadir Gilani, who died in 1166 in the Iraqi capital.

Speaking to Anadolu, Sayyid Khalid Abdul Qadir Gilani said that under Erdoğan's leadership, the Turkish development aid agency, the Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has been caring for pieces of Ottoman legacy at the Gilani Mausoleum in Baghdad.

He added that the renovation of the minbar (imam's pulpit) in the mosque and a clock tower built by the late-era Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II are both nearing completion.

On Erdoğan's expected visit to Iraq, whose date has not yet been set, Gilani said: "We are awaiting this visit and wholeheartedly support those who are preparing for it. President Erdoğan's visit to Iraq will have a dimension for both Muslims and our followers of the Qadiriyya order.

"This visit by Erdoğan will also convey the message that Iraq is a country that is open, safe, and stable for both political engagements and religious visits to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, Imam Hussein (Husayn Ibn Ali), Imam Azam, and Gilani."

Saying that they want Erdoğan to visit the mausoleum, he added: "All Ottoman sultans have left some mark at the mausoleum. His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also leave a trace at the Gilani Mausoleum by inaugurating projects to be completed by TIKA."

Abdul Qadir Gilani was the Islamic philosopher, scholar, preacher, and Sufi leader who gave his name to the Qadiriyya, one of the oldest Sufi orders.

He was born in 1077 or 1078 in the town of Na'if, Rezvanshahr in Gilan, Persia, and died in 1166 in Baghdad.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Analysts suggest that the reconversion serves as a diversion from domestic challenges such as economic difficulties and political dissent, and is part of a broader strategy to reinforce Islamic identity and nationalism in Turkey .

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Content: As we have informed, today a group of protesters led by RPA Vice President Armen Ashotyan carried out awareness-raising activities in the center. Ashotyan had initiated a city tour. A whole police unit was gathered near the cascade, and when he got there, Ashotyan urged the protesters not to leave the group, because they could kidnap a man with two handwritings.

Seeing that the red berets were approaching them, Ashotyan, in the tone of a guide, offered the protesters to drink water from a nearby fountain and continue the tour. However, the police immediately started arresting him. Ashotyan was shouting. “Yesterday they did not allow flowers to be laid at the Genocide Memorial, today they are in a vile form.” He did not have time to finish his speech, the police caught him. Ashotyan was shouting. “People were drinking water, you are suffocating.”

Ashotyan was detained, “I have honor” MP Tigran Abrahamyan offered the police to take him, but they abstained. According to Tigran Abrahamyan, impudence is happening. “During the day, the Vaheghazaryans gather people from the sidewalks without giving them time. The police are violating the law as much as they can, and the police officers who serve them will be held accountable for this. ”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

According to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, the reproduction of excerpts from news materials should not reveal a significant part of the news material. When reproducing excerpts from news materials on the site, it is mandatory to mention the name of the media outlet in the title of the excerpt, as well as to place an active link to the site.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The timing of the conversion, shortly after significant electoral defeats for Erdoğan's party, has raised questions about whether the move was intended to distract from pressing political issues .

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Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

Erdoğan himself has framed the reconversion as a "glorious chapter" in Turkish history, emphasizing its importance to the Islamic community and portraying it as a reclamation of Turkish identity and heritage .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

Critics argue that this act signals a departure from the secular principles established by Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and as prioritizing the Islamic past over the multicultural and multi-faith legacy the Hagia Sophia represents .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

Symbolized Turkey's secular reforms under Ataturk

**International and Domestic Reactions:** The reconversion has drawn widespread condemnation from international bodies, governments, and religious organizations .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Greek government and the Greek Orthodox Church have been particularly vocal, viewing the decision as an affront to Christian heritage and a threat to the religious freedom of Christian minorities in Turkey .

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

State Department and UNESCO have expressed concerns that the reconversion undermines Turkey’s commitment to religious tolerance and freedom, and could exacerbate tensions between religious communities in a historically diverse region .

UNESCO specifically emphasized the need to preserve the Hagia Sophia's historical integrity and universal value as a World Heritage Site .

The move has also raised diplomatic tensions, particularly with Greece, which regards the Hagia Sophia as a critical part of its cultural heritage and condemned the move as provocative, potentially straining bilateral relations and regional stability .

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

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Content: Stories appearing in our World pages originate from aggregated news feeds obtained from various subscription news sources.

Good morning, New York. Today is the third anniversary of the deadly shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue complex in Pittsburgh. Asaf Zamir, the Consulate General of Israel in New York, will participate in a ceremony in Pittsburgh today, organized by the 10.27 Healing Partnership, to honor the lives of the 11 people who perished. The Jewish Week’s Andrew Silow-Carroll writes about what the shooting and its aftermath revealed about the American Jewish community.

RABBI VS. RABBI: Our colleague Ben Sales takes a deep dive into the succession crisis at Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue, where the abrupt firing of the assistant rabbi has divided the monied Orthodox congregation, and supporters of the senior rabbi say they aborted an attempted coup. (JTA)

SUNRISE, HIGHWAYS: Sunrise NYC, the local chapter of a national youth environmental group, rejected the decision by the Washington, D.C. chapter to shun cooperation with “Zionist” groups. (Jewish Week via JTA)

  • On Monday, Sunrise NYC and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice collaborated in shutting down the West Side Highway and the FDR Drive in a climate change protest; a rabbi was arrested.

STILL HERE: Broadway is back, and The Jewish Week has seven good reasons — that is, seven shows with a strong Jewish connection — to lure you back to the theater. (Jewish Week via JTA)

MAZEL TOV: Chelsey Tabor and Jacob Horn met at a program for adults with special needs at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan; a 2023 wedding is planned. (Jewish Week)

REMEMBERING

Jay Black of “Jay and the Americans,” who claimed to have been thrown out of three yeshivas before a singing career that included hits like “Cara Mia,” “Come a Little Bit Closer” and a cover of the Drifters’ “This Magic Moment,” died Saturday in Queens at 82. Born David Blatt, he was raised in an Orthodox family in Brooklyn and sang as a youngster with the choir of the famed cantor Moshe Koussevitzky. (JTA)

GIVING & GETTING

The Manhattan College Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center celebrated its 25th anniversary Sunday with a gala at the college’s Kelly Commons. (Riverdale Press)

The Sid Jacobson JCC in Greenvale, Long Island raised more than $150,000 at Sunday’s Stronger Than Cancer 5K Honoring Harvey Marx. All proceeds will directly benefit the JCC’s Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center and its programs.

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Americans for Ben-Gurion University presents “Diversity and Inclusion in Israel,” a webinar featuring Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder, BGU vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and Guy Ben-Porat, chair of BGU’s Department of Politics and Government. Porat is spearheading the new Center for the Study of a Shared Society, which will serve as a research institution dedicated to the academic study of three schisms in Israeli society: the Jewish majority and the Arab minority; religion and state; and Mizrahim and Ashkenazim. Register here. Noon.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage presents a conversation with U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Alexander Vindman, who reported the infamous phone call that led to President Trump’s first impeachment. His new memoir “Here, Right Matters: An American Story,” details his Jewish upbringing in Ukraine and Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. Register to attend in person or via livestream. 3:30 p.m.

Workers Circle presents the first of a four-session program designed for beginner genealogists who want to learn more about how to start or continue their research. $150 for Workers Circle members, $180 for non-members. Register here. 5:00 p.m.

Photo, top: Rabbi Guy Austrian of the Fort Tryon Jewish Center in Upper Manhattan, center, takes part in a climate change protest organized by Sunrise Movement NYC and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Oct. 25, 2021. He and other protesters would later be arrested for blocking the West Side Highway. (Courtesy William Bozian)

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Title:

Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

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Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Read more:

Ramadan prayers return to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque after 88 years

Turkey says UNESCO criticism of Hagia Sophia conversion ‘biased and political’

Erdogan names ex-environment minister as his party’s Istanbul mayor candidate

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Father Serra finds home: Controversial statue delivered to Mission San Buenaventura

VENTURA, Calif. - An iconic religious statue removed from Ventura City Hall four years ago is back.

The 3,000-pound bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra was craned back into place in Ventura this week.

The statue's removal was authorized by the city in the wake of protests targeting the missionary priest’s role in ending the way of life for indigenous Chumash people.

The statue was delivered to the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in downtown Ventura.

It took several hours for the statue to be put in place using a crane.

Members of the mission are thrilled to receive the statue.

"its a great honor for us it's historic … and it adds to the layers of history going back 200 years here in San Buenaventura," said father tom Elewaut of the San Buenaventura mission.

"Now it's got a home it's going to be here and now all the parishioners and all the visitors that come to the mission will be able to see the statue of Father Serra," said parishioner Daniel Mooney of the San Buenaventura Mission.

The mission was founded by Serra in 1782, the last of nine California missions started by the priest.

Article Topic Follows: Lifestyle

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Patricia Martellotti

Patricia Martellotti is a reporter for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Patricia, click here.

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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

**Public Protests and Local Community Sentiment:** Following the announcement, protests erupted both within Turkey and internationally.

**Public Protests and Local Community Sentiment:** Following the announcement, protests erupted both within Turkey and internationally.

**Public Protests and Local Community Sentiment:** Following the announcement, protests erupted both within Turkey and internationally.

Demonstrators—including secularists, religious minorities, cultural heritage advocates, and Christians who feel marginalized—argued that the Hagia Sophia should remain a museum to symbolize shared heritage rather than exclusive worship .

Title:

Content: Skip to Content

Father Serra finds home: Controversial statue delivered to Mission San Buenaventura

VENTURA, Calif. - An iconic religious statue removed from Ventura City Hall four years ago is back.

The 3,000-pound bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra was craned back into place in Ventura this week.

The statue's removal was authorized by the city in the wake of protests targeting the missionary priest’s role in ending the way of life for indigenous Chumash people.

The statue was delivered to the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in downtown Ventura.

It took several hours for the statue to be put in place using a crane.

Members of the mission are thrilled to receive the statue.

"its a great honor for us it's historic … and it adds to the layers of history going back 200 years here in San Buenaventura," said father tom Elewaut of the San Buenaventura mission.

"Now it's got a home it's going to be here and now all the parishioners and all the visitors that come to the mission will be able to see the statue of Father Serra," said parishioner Daniel Mooney of the San Buenaventura Mission.

The mission was founded by Serra in 1782, the last of nine California missions started by the priest.

Article Topic Follows: Lifestyle

Jump to comments ↓

Patricia Martellotti

Patricia Martellotti is a reporter for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Patricia, click here.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content

Title:

Content: Pro-Palestine students set up a “liberated zone” in Schenley Plaza on Tuesday.
Nate Yonamine, Assistant Visual Editor

Students hold sit-in protest in support of Palestinians, call on Pitt to divest

Sit-in protests in support of Palestinians have spread to Pitt after similar demonstrations at Columbia and Yale.

“We’re gonna be here until the University forces us out or until they do what we’ve demanded of them,” Sam Weiner, a graduate student and organizer of the event, said.

A coalition of groups are staging a pro-Palestine “liberation zone” in front of the Cathedral of Learning from Tuesday morning through Friday. The protestors stayed on a grassy area near Bigelow Boulevard, before moving to Schenly Plaza, where they have spread banners and pro-Palestinian literature.

“[We’re] calling on the University to acknowledge their role and their position in apartheid and genocide and to divest financially… from military corporations, or anyone involved in the Israeli apartheid regime,” Weiner said.

Sarah, a Pitt student attending the event who wished to be referred to only by her first name, said Pitt should make clear its financial interests in Israel.

“Our primary goal is to get Pitt to understand our demands, which is to divest from Israel. Or at least be transparent with their financial statements about how they’re investing in Israel,” Sarah said.

The protest began inside the Cathedral but Pitt administrators told them to move outside. There, the organizers placed tarps, mats and blankets as well as a tent, though Pitt police quickly ordered the tent be taken down. Later in the afternoon, the group were asked to move to Schenley Plaza, where they started to set up tents to stay the night. Pittsburgh City police and Pitt police assisted in moving the students to Schenley Plaza but “no arrests were made,” according to University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer.

“[Students] have a lot more power than they think [they] do,” Sarah said. “It’s really important to one make a statement and show our university that we can’t continue to be complicit in a violent genocide and apartheid state.”

According to Sarah, holding the protest by the Cathedral makes people “uncomfortable” with their presence, and that’s the goal.

“A lot of students are going to be walking by Cathy,” Sarah said. “So I think by seeing this and making people slightly uncomfortable with our presence, it really will just have people be forced to think about what they’re supporting or what they’re neutral about.”

This protest follows larger demonstrations at colleges like Columbia, Yale, Harvard and Emerson, where students have camped out on quads and other university spaces. Police have  arrested hundreds at these events but organizers at Pitt have not come into serious conflict with Pitt police.

“[The police officers] have just been standing around,” Weiner said. “The only ‘tension’ was some of us tried to move over to an [adjacent] lawn, which apparently is a reservable space. It’s been mostly nitpicky things that we’ve never seen cops bring up.”

Relations between the protestors, administration, and police remained peaceful. However, Stonesifer noted that “the demonstration was not a registered event and was taking place in an area that is not designated as an event space.”

“The University of Pittsburgh affirms the rights of community members to engage in peaceful and orderly demonstrations,” Stonesifer said. “University of Pittsburgh administrators communicated with the demonstrators multiple times over the course of several hours and requested that they move to a different location. During those conversations, information regarding the demonstrators’ rights and responsibilities, including reminders regarding space reservation guidelines and expectations of student organizations, was shared with the demonstrators.”

Alitza Hochhauser, president of Chabad at Pitt, expressed concerns over the protest’s impact on Jewish students on campus as she looked onto the demonstration from in front of the Cathedral fountain.

“It’s incredibly disrespectful towards Jewish students during this time, especially during finals week,” Hochhauser said. “We have seen what is happening at Columbia. It is terrifying that many of my friends at home right now have to do classes from Zoom. To see this happening on Pitt’s campus is honestly terrifying.”

Weiner refuted these claims, saying that the protest is peaceful and non-disruptive.

“We’re not here to suppress any students or faculty or staff,” Weiner said. “What we’re here to do is to make a demand of our university administration that is supposed to take care of us. We never say anything about Jews. All we have ever talked about is the state of Israel and its political ideology.”

Weiner also noted that he is Jewish and that many other Jewish students are attending the protest.

“It’s important for us to show up, for lack of a better term, looking physically Jewish,” Weiner said. “At all these other campuses… they’re claiming that these movements are antisemitic or that Jews on campus are unsafe but we’re not the only Jews here. There’s a lot of anti-Zionist Jews all across the country that organize these events, and it really hurts when they use antisemitism as a shield.”

Hochhauser said Chabad supports the right of these groups to protest but that they “do not support the fact that they’re able to camp out here as a group of people for a prolonged period of time.”

Sarah is optimistic that the protest will make a strong impact at Pitt.

“If we all really organize together, we could really make more of a difference than we think,” Sarah said.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

These protests reflect broader concerns about religious freedom, minority rights, and the secular principles of the Turkish Republic .

Title:

Content: Skip to Content

Father Serra finds home: Controversial statue delivered to Mission San Buenaventura

VENTURA, Calif. - An iconic religious statue removed from Ventura City Hall four years ago is back.

The 3,000-pound bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra was craned back into place in Ventura this week.

The statue's removal was authorized by the city in the wake of protests targeting the missionary priest’s role in ending the way of life for indigenous Chumash people.

The statue was delivered to the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in downtown Ventura.

It took several hours for the statue to be put in place using a crane.

Members of the mission are thrilled to receive the statue.

"its a great honor for us it's historic … and it adds to the layers of history going back 200 years here in San Buenaventura," said father tom Elewaut of the San Buenaventura mission.

"Now it's got a home it's going to be here and now all the parishioners and all the visitors that come to the mission will be able to see the statue of Father Serra," said parishioner Daniel Mooney of the San Buenaventura Mission.

The mission was founded by Serra in 1782, the last of nine California missions started by the priest.

Article Topic Follows: Lifestyle

Jump to comments ↓

Patricia Martellotti

Patricia Martellotti is a reporter for News Channel 3-12. To learn more about Patricia, click here.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content

Within Turkey, public opinion is divided.

Within Turkey, public opinion is divided.

Many support the reconversion as a restoration of the Hagia Sophia's original purpose as a mosque and a source of national pride, while others fear it signals a decline in secularism and an increase in religious conservatism .

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

This division reflects broader societal tensions over the role of religion in public life and governance .

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

**Impact on Tourism, Accessibility, and Local Economy:** The reconversion has significant implications for tourism and the local economy in Istanbul.

**Impact on Tourism, Accessibility, and Local Economy:** The reconversion has significant implications for tourism and the local economy in Istanbul.

**Impact on Tourism, Accessibility, and Local Economy:** The reconversion has significant implications for tourism and the local economy in Istanbul.

The Hagia Sophia remains a major tourist attraction, but the shift in its status has led to mixed reactions from visitors, particularly those from Western countries who may view the change unfavorably .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

Since the reconversion, the site has received approximately 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, but this influx has raised concerns about the structural integrity of the building, with reports of falling fragments from the dome due to humidity created by large crowds .

Title:

Content: [ditty_news_ticker id="27897"] Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia - Orthodox Christian Laity

Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia

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Source: Greek Reporter

A still from a recently released video shows visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fall from the dome of Hagia Sophia. Credit: Daily Motion/BirGün

A video from 2022 that came to light recently shows fragments falling on visitors from the dome of Hagia Sophia, the former epicenter of Christian worship at Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper, BirGün, raises serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, now a mosque.

BirGün notably quoted officials as saying that “pieces are falling from the roof, due to the humidity created by the crowd, but no precautions are being taken”.

The president of the Turkish Art History Association, Serif Yasar, argued for restoration of the monument as soon as possible, suggesting that “If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake.”

The monument was restored as a mosque three years ago after serving as a museum from 1935-2020 and has since received 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s tourism and culture minister.

Yasar added that when the church was a museum, the scientific council overseeing it urged that groups of no more than 25 people should be allowed to enter the building at any one time.

This enormous lift in visitation has likely brought to the forefront the need for repairs and it was indeed reported in September that the Turkish government had decided to start long-term maintenance of Hagia Sophia.

Turkey to implement visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia

In early October Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli expressed fears that the large number of visitors to Hagia Sophia could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

Writing in the Hürriyet daily, Ortayli said that the monument, which attracts three million pilgrims annually apart from tourists, has undergone significant damage since its conversion into a mosque.

He asserted that even a modest number of 20-30 thousand people annually, including scientists, historians, archaeologists, representatives of the Muslim religion, politicians, and public officials, could be considered excessive for the endurance of the monument.

In June 2022 a number of tiles of the ancient marble floors in Hagia Sophia were damaged by heavy machines used to clean the site.

In April 2022, The Turkish Association of Art Historians stated that the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia had been badly damaged.

The group posted a picture clearly depicting the damage to the oak wood of the 15-century-old gate.

Turkey unveiled plans in late October for a visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia, including charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee to be implemented starting Jan. 15.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

He emphasized that, based on UNESCO’s recommendations, a visitor management plan would be enforced to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

Related Articles
Officials argue for repairs to Hagia Sophia after footage shows fragments falling from the dome – Neos Kosmos

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What was the significance of Hagia Sophia's conversion into a museum in 1934?

made Hagia Sophia a major tourist attraction.

Experts have warned that the large number of visitors could lead to catastrophic structural failures if not managed properly, prompting calls for urgent restoration and improved visitor management policies .

In response, the Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy, including charging foreign tourists an entrance fee starting January 15, 2024, and restricting access for non-Muslim visitors to upper levels while the main floor is reserved for Muslim worshippers .

These changes have raised concerns about accessibility for non-Muslim visitors and the potential negative impact on tourism, which is a vital sector for Istanbul’s economy and for tour guides who rely on visitors to this iconic site .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

**Preservation and UNESCO Concerns:** UNESCO has expressed concern about the implications of the reconversion for the site's status and preservation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its universal cultural value .

The increased foot traffic has led to damage, including falling fragments from the dome, and experts have called for immediate restoration efforts to prevent further deterioration .

The covering of Christian mosaics and artworks to accommodate Islamic worship has also raised alarms about the preservation of the site's Christian heritage .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

**Diplomatic Considerations for Tour Guides:** For tour guides, addressing tourists' concerns about the Hagia Sophia's reconversion requires sensitivity and factual clarity.

**Diplomatic Considerations for Tour Guides:** For tour guides, addressing tourists' concerns about the Hagia Sophia's reconversion requires sensitivity and factual clarity.

Emphasizing the site's rich and complex history—as a Byzantine cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, and a museum—can help contextualize the reconversion .

Title:

Content: Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched the reopening and operation of Ayasofya Mosque's Fatih Madrassa — Istanbul’s first religious school under the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish president has inaugurated the Ayasofya Fatih Madrassa, the first Ottoman school in Istanbul.

“We have taken a very important step to carry our magnificent past to the present and the future, and to bring it together with our people,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the inauguration ceremony on Friday.

“After the conquest of Istanbul, this place was put into service as the first madrassa of the city, next to Ayasofya," Erdogan added.

The religious school takes its name from Fatih (Conqueror), the title given to Sultan Mehmet II, who conquered the city in 1453. It was the first of its kind in the capital of the former Ottoman Empire.

Erdogan said the school continued to operate until 1924 with maintenance, repairs and construction during different periods, but was later demolished by "those who wanted to erase the country’s rich history."

Erdogan said the madrassa will again be an education centre, operated by the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

“Ayasofya Fatih Madrasa, which has been instrumental in the training of countless scholars for nearly four and a half centuries, will serve as an education centre from now on. I hope that tomorrow's scholars, intellectuals, scientists and researchers will be trained here,” the president said.

READ MORE: Türkiye to 'tirelessly' continue mediating Ukraine-Russia conflict: Altun

Ayasofya’s historical significance

Ayasofya was built in the year 532 CE, and turned into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who later established a mosque foundation.

The historic place of worship was converted into a museum in 1934, and it regained mosque status in 2020.

Besides being a mosque, Ayasofya is also among Türkiye's top tourism destinations and remains open for domestic and foreign visitors.

In 1985, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

READ MORE: Istanbul Airport ranked second busiest in the world last year

Source: AA

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

Highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the issue may ease concerns among visitors, especially those from Western countries who might be upset by the change [a1b2c3d

Highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the issue may ease concerns among visitors, especially those from Western countries who might be upset by the change [a1b2c3d

Highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the issue may ease concerns among visitors, especially those from Western countries who might be upset by the change [a1b2c3d