Current status: please sign, here.
Following the Pope's visit to Turkey, and in light of Turkey's aspiration to join the European Union, please sign this petition to have Hagia Sophia, the great church of Constantinople built by the Emperor Justinian, returned to Christian worship. This petition is to be presented to the European Union, which is urged to make this gesture a condition of membership for Turkey.
Roman Catholic participation in this petition is a fitting gesture towards the Greek Orthodox in Turkey, and especially to Patriarch Bartholomeos, who welcomed the Holy Father so graciously.
The petition organiser's home page has more information about the church and the campaign.
Hat-tip to Catholic Church Conservation.
Monday, December 11, 2006
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9 comments:
It is a dangerous proposal of dubious origin because it gives way to the mohammedan request to use the former mosque in Cordoba(now a catholic church)for their rituals alongwith the use of the shrine in Fatima!
No, it doesn't follow. For one thing Hagia Sophia is no longer in use as a Muslim place of worship; it's a museum. And it's not the Spanish who are asking for Hagia Sophia back, but the local Orthodox Christians, who have been treated with gross injustice for five centuries. Their claim is just regardless of what has happened elsewhere, and as defenders of justice we should support it.
Santa Sophia is in use as a museum after the 1920's revolution of Ataturk with which he gave way to a secular state.The Turks would rather have it re-instated as a mosque rather than giving it back to the Christians and if it does happen that they will give it back the mohameddans will ask for gesture of reciprocity elsewhere.Now the position and numbers of christians in Turkey and in the islamic world is outnumbered by the mohammedans living in Europe and an(improbable)concession there could lead to a 'gesture of goodwill'from some areas of the Church. It has been enough to have them had a mosque next to the Chair of St.Peter.(their initial plan was to have the minaret overshadowing St.Peter).
Well, the Muslims are always asking for favours from Western countries, and they are frequently granted. So why not ask a favour in return?
I do not see how this will ever be possible since their dream is to bring (and impose)their religion to the west.Thanks to the western leaders who in majority emrace secularism (freemasonery)alongwith various levels of the Church this dream of theirs could one day come true.Truth is that the 'Christian' world needs awakening and made aware of what is going on,need redescovering it's true faith(Catholic and pre- Vatican II).
I see that my reply is not posted.
I presume it is too much to be dealt with or behind a fierce facade there is the usual story...
It was worth a try.
All comments have to be approved, so they don't appear instantly; sorry for the delay.
Asking Hugia Sophia back is a step to ask for the whole Turkey once again for the Christians Roman Catholic, at least I could be seen by some of them like that. I do not think that even a non believer average Turkish citizen will agree on such a tremendous symbolic deed. Moreover as a Muslim, I will, of course, go for asking Cordoba Mosque back to be used for Islamic prayers, there are so many Muslims in Spain and they are Spanish citizens and they have the rights to take the Holy Mosque back. I find this a justifiable claim. The Mosque of Cordoba in return of Hugia Sophia… Do not you?
The situation is not parallel: Hagia Sophia is currently a museum. If there is a redundant mosque being used as a museum somewhere you'd be welcome to have it back as far as I'm concerned.
Remember the extraordinary favours Christian countries have extended Muslims - eg building an enormous Mosque in Rome. Would Christians be allowed to build a cathedral in Mecca? I don't think so.
There are many churches in Turkey which have been confiscated by the state and either stand idle or are museums. This is grossly unjust, and it is time we asked for them back.
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