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Ιερά Μητρόπολις Βελγίου
Brussels, 17 July 2020
COMMUNIQUE ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF HAGIA SOFIA FROM A MUSEUM TO A MOSQUE
It is with deep grief that the members of CROCEU1 learned
about the unprecedented violation of the UNESCO rules that took place in
Turkey, after the Turkish authorities decided to change the status of
the world heritage monument “Hagia Sophia” in Istanbul, from a museum
into a mosque.
The issue has attracted global attention and many – on both sides of
the Atlantic – have invited the President of the Turkish Republic, Mr.
Recep Tayip Erdogan, to rethink this provocative action that violates
historical memory and religious pluralism, putting a thorn in the side
of millions of Christians all across the globe. The European Parliament
has objected to such a development before. In March 2019 MEPs invited
the Turkish government to fully respect and fulfill its legal
obligations to protect cultural heritage.
Hagia Sophia has played a decisive role in the shaping of the
Christian liturgical tradition. It has served as a Cathedral from 537
until 1453, for almost a thousand years. Hagia Sophia is a masterpiece
of architectural genius, globally renowned as one of the preeminent
monuments of Christian civilization worldwide. Hagia Sophia, throughout
the centuries and even in our days, has been a global source of immense
inspiration as a spiritual, artistic and architectural miracle. That
proves the justification of the decision by UNESCO, in 1985, to include
it into its world heritage list, as an architectural masterpiece that
has withstood destruction, both natural and human.
We strongly believe – and unfortunately we fear that it may turn out
to be the case – that the status change of Hagia Sophia will provoke
reactions, frustration and disappointment not only from millions of
Christians around the globe, no matter their denomination, but also from
all those millions of people who go to visit this marvel of
architecture and historical monument that has been standing in its place
for almost 1500 years since its construction and has been a legacy for
humanity at large.
In a time of Democracy, Human Dignity and Rule of Law, the effort to
erase the ancient Christian origins of Hagia Sophia and to convert such a
monument that belongs to the entire Human Civilization in such a brutal
way is incomprehensible, deplorable and dangerous. Furthermore, we are
sure that this will also have a significant impact on the ongoing inter-
religious dialogue, since the site has powerful visible and invisible
Christian symbols. The normative character of the values for which the
European Union stands demands a firm solidary answer. The EU
institutions, and especially the European Commission, as guardians of
these European and Universal values and as the voice of European
citizens, can play a unique role in preserving the world’s cultural
heritage, historical memory and religious pluralism. It is actually in
moments like this that the significant role of the Special Envoy for the
promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU becomes
ever-more obvious.
With that in mind we call upon all those of good will to react to the
decision of the Turkish authorities for the conversion of Hagia Sofia
into a mosque.
1. Established in 2010, the Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Institutions (CROCEU) brings together the representatives in Brussels of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of Romania, the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, the Church of Cyprus and the Church of Greece. Its main goal is to articulate with a common voice the concerns and the perspectives of the Orthodox Church on EU-related matters.
