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Other mosques around Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque thats a short walk from Aya Sofya, allow visitors outside of prayer times, but they must be dressed modestly and women must cover their heads. Paradoxically, this has ensured the survival of Orthodoxy under Turkish domination.[21]. Hagia Sophia is a sixth-century Byzantine edifice (a mosque since July 2020) that is considered to be one of the architectural wonders of the world. Cellphones and social media hurt teens. Leaders should choose to act morally when there is room to do so. Under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic in the 20th century, it was turned into a museum that attracts millions of tourists each year. The gigantic circular medallions reproduce the names of Allah, the prophet Muhammad, the first four caliphs and the two nephews of Muhammad. Today the Greeks still call it Constantinople. See A. Lomonaco, Prima preghiera islamica a Santa Sofia tra imponenti misure di sicurezza, inVatican News, July 24, 2020. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Is it safe to visit Europe during the heat wave? The Hagia Sophia Was a Cathedral, a Mosque and a Museum. It's Already, the move has been met with disapproval from a wide coalition of international figures, from Pope Francis and Orthodox leaders to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Just as Muhammad II succeeded in ending the Holy Roman Empire of the East, so now Erdoans leadership intends to challenge not only the Christian world, including Orthodox Russia, but also those who guard Islams most sacred places, Mecca and Medina. Does he want to use Hagia Sophia as a place of prayer? Located only six minutes on foot from the mosque, the Royan Hotel Hagia Sophia Istanbul has only 48 rooms and suites, allowing guests to feel pampered. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. [24], In conclusion, we should remember the testimony of Monsignor Luigi Padovese, Apostolic Vicar in Anatolia, who had his throat slit by his driver on June 3, 2010, in Iskenderun (Alexandretta): a murder whose perpetrators are not yet known. Will you be compensated if travel plans are impacted? The latter is a bitter fact of history, like Christian imperialism or nationalism, which have targeted our mosques and even lives as well from Cordoba to Srebrenica. the splendor of the Orthodox liturgy led to the conversion of the Russian people; in Hagia Sophia, on the . July 27, 2020, Response: Hagia Sophia and Islamist Nation-Building: Hijacking the Conservative Architectural Imaginary, Blent Batuman See G. Antonazzi, Santa Sofia torna ad essere una moschea, inDaysItalia News, July 11, 2020. If a dialogue does not involve the heart, it is of little use.[25]. Sign up to receive more information about our events and programs. Un tempio di luce, eds. The construction began in the year 532 and was completed just five years later in 537, making it an impressive feat of engineering for its time. What LGBTQ travelers need to know before visiting Turkey, The 25 best things to do in Istanbul that don't cost a thing, How to get around in Istanbul despite the traffic, 6 long-distance bike itineraries in Europe that promise epic adventure. Yasir Qadhi argues that Hagia Sophias conversion is not detrimental to Muslims living in the West because they live under secular constitutions that guarantee their religious freedoms. Hagia Sophia: turning this Turkish treasure into a mosque is at odds M. Hakan Yavuz, Turkeys Hagia Sophia Decision: A Stone That Hits No Birds [13]. The Hagia Sophia was then converted to a museum in 1934 by a decree of Mustafa Kemal Atatrk, founder of the constitutionally secular Republic of Turkey. In general, mosques are open to everyone, not just Muslim worshippers, and that includes Hagia Sophia. [25]. July 31, 2020, Response: Hagia Sophias Status Change Threatens Cultural Rights, Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue", Unescos director-general Audrey Azoulay said in a statement. This was a way to relate to Europe and attempt dialogue with European sovereigns. The Hagia Sophia decision will fuel Islamophobia across the world and put Muslim minorities at risk. Hagia Sophia's continuing legacy | Stanford News The tormented history of the basilica has given it a unique value and extraordinary significance through the centuries; it has become a model of dialogue and an emblem of coexistence. However, Erdoans move will offer another opportunity to those political entrepreneurs who capitalize on anti-Muslim discourse. Ive been asked why the Hagia Sophia stinks. Hagia Sophia first became a mosque when the Ottomans conquered Constantinoplesoon renamed Istanbulin 1453. Soon, some jurists found an excuse to overcome the Jerusalem model: There, Christians were given full security, because they had ultimately agreed on a peaceful surrender. Ali Yaycolu, Erasing History at the Hagia Sophia He instead prayed at an empty area that Christians ignored but Jews honored, then as now, as their holiest site, the Temple Mount, where today the Western Wall, the last remnant of that ancient Jewish temple, rises to the top of the Mount, on which the Mosque of Umar and the Dome of the Rock were built. As a report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding demonstrates, legal limitations do not prevent Muslims from opening new mosques in the United States but societal resistance makes it difficult. Is the Conversion of Hagia Sophia Into a Mosque an Islamic Act? Social media user Furkan Soylu recently reignited the debate when he shared his experience of attending morning prayer at Hagia Sophia. Aya Sofya is a Unesco-listed site, and the change of status was not discussed with the organisation, which could result in the structure losing its listing. Further, when Islamists use religion to mobilize popular support, they undermine religion in the long run. [10]. July 29, 2020, Response: Beyond Conquest Narratives: Hagia Sophia, Past and Present, Patricia Blessing Francis,Angelusof July 12, 2020. Finally, five centuries later, in 1934, the first president of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal, known as Atatrk (Father of the Turks), converted it into a museum. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. The High Committee for Human Fraternity, constituted between Jews, Muslims and Christians on August 20, 2019, to promote the ideals contained in the above-mentioned document, also wrote that divisions should be avoided and mutual respect and understanding between all religions fostered. 4, 1020: 10.32009/22072446.1020.4. Reproduced with permission of La Civilt Cattolica. The Arasta Bazaar, Glhane Park, and Sirkeci metro station are also all located within 0.6 mile of the mansions. [16]The decision of the Turkish state takes place at a historic moment, marked by various attempts at dialogue and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. The four-star hotel has free local breakfast daily, a free roundtrip airport shuttle, and free WiFi. Heres What It WasLike. "I underline that we will open Hagia Sophia to worship as a mosque by preserving its character of humanity's common cultural heritage," he said, adding that that it was Turkey's sovereign right to decide what the building would be used for. [24]. Over the years, silently and without causing a stir, it has become a symbol of fraternity in the heart of Istanbul, a sacred space for everyone: Christians, Muslims, religious and non-believers, for anyone who believes in the dialogue between West and East, the encounter of cultures, spirituality and diversity. In 1934 it became a museum and is now a Unesco World. Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles (architects), Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 532-37. The basilica built in the sixth century in honour of Christ the Saviour enchanted with its beauty the envoys of Prince Vladimir, to the point that the prince, after listening to their story, received baptism and baptised the Rus, starting Christian civilisation in the country. Finally, he recalled that, with bitterness and indignation, the Russian people have responded in the past and now respond to any attempt to degrade or trample on the ancient spiritual heritage of the Church of Constantinople. He hoped for a rethink on the part of Turkish leaders, since maintaining Hagia Sophias up until then neutral status would facilitate the further development of relations between the peoples of Russia and Turkey and [] peace and interreligious harmony.[12]. [8]The political significance of the date is clear: Erdoan intends to reaffirm the power of his country and reshape the borders of present-day Turkey. Response: Is the Conversion of Hagia Sophia Into a Mosque an Islamic Act? What Turning Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Really Means My students considered the visit to Hagia Sophia as one of the highlights of the course. He is the author of Alien Citizens: State and Religious Minorities in Turkey and France (Cambridge University Press, 2019) and a co-author of Generating Generosity in Catholicism and Islam: Beliefs, Institutions and Public Goods Provision (Cambridge University Press, 2018). The ancient Aya Sofya, often called Hagia Sophia in English and one of Istanbul's most iconic and enduring monuments at nearly 15 centuries old, has been It is an affront to world Orthodoxy; it challenges the ancient legacy of Constantinople; it is against European countries, and it is also a resounding slap in the face to those who still believe that Turkey is a secular country. The cathedral and its dome, welcoming those masterpieces of the former conquerors, conveyed the idea of something more than a museum; one could say it proclaimed a new message for the whole Mediterranean tormented by wars even in the name of God. And he concluded shrewdly: That museum announced that the absolutism of believers can be overcome, the space can be preserved to allow a path respectful of history and its truth as much as of complexity.[7]. The Christian historian Eutychius even tells us that when Caliph Umar entered the city, the patriarch of Jerusalem, Sophronius, invited him to pray at the holiest of all Christian shrines: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. But the conqueror of Jerusalem in 1187 is still waiting for his visit.[23]. So when those first Muslims were persecuted in pagan Mecca, some found asylum in the Christian kingdom in Ethiopia. To repress Muslim minorities, oppressors around the world can employ Turkeys sovereignty argument to change the status of Hagia Sophia. Though sultan Mehmet II initially claimed the domed cathedral as his own, he later. Whats a worthy alternative to the Trans-Siberian railway? Response: Why is Hagia Sophia's (Re)Conversion into a Mosque Bad for Muslims? Hagia Sophia: From Ancient Church to Mosque. In short, is the conversion of Hagia Sophia, symbol of dialogue and tolerance, an intolerant political act disguised under religious intentions? But they also did other things that represent the better values of Islam: They gave full protection to not only Greek but also Armenian Christians, rebuilt Istanbul as a cosmopolitan city, and soon also welcomed the Spanish Jews who were fleeing the Catholic Inquisition.