Convert Hagia Sophia back to a church

Thats a great picture

We could rebuild the Church of the Holy Apostles next to Hagia Sophia (where it used to be).

Originally posted by Mila Wherever the altar used to be, wherever the setting is right. It really doesn't matter to me where it is, I imagine the Christians would know the proper place. Nothing is impossible, especially not re-arranging some things in a museum.

No really the interior has been quite changed, so it would be difficult.  Plus there is another problem, some people would not want it changed(like mortaza).  They would make life very hard for you if you made an attempt to change it

  R_AK47 wrote:
"I have not seen any posts from them on this subject."
actually you dont here much with me coz i already raised constantinople here
and the aghia sophia aghia irini little further

I want them restored, i think its the right thing to do, but that is wishful thinking. In the end it will be up to the turks not the greeks on what happens with those buildings.

Originally posted by Leonidas   R_AK47 wrote: "I have not seen any posts from them on this subject." actually you dont here much with me coz i already raised constantinople here and the aghia sophia aghia irini little further I want them restored, i think its the right thing to do, but that is wishful thinking. In the end it will be up to the turks not the greeks on what happens with those buildings.

Hagia Irene!  I almost forgot about that.  Perhaps I should start a post about Hagia Irene next.  And then there is the Cora Church, SS Sergius and Bachus, and others.

Originally posted by R_AK47 Hagia Irene!  I almost forgot about that.  Perhaps I should start a post about Hagia Irene next.  And then there is the Cora Church, SS Sergius and Bachus, and others.

I think you are talking about Aya Irini.... Well, it is well preserved concert hall. It has never converted to a mosque and used as granary in the garden of Topkapi Palace. In 19.th century it has been used as military museum and in year 1993 the restoration works ended and building is still in use as a concert hall. As you see there is a big cross on the top respecting to its past. In Aya Irini there are turkish classical, western classical, religious musics of all religions, modern dance etc. entertainments.

There are tens of Greek Orthodox Churches in Istanbul as you can see from the list below with their addresses that can be used for your religious needs.

We are expecting a mosque, at least one mosque, in Athens for the needs of Muslims. But even for Olympic games a mosque can not be buit in the city. I wonder why? In holy days of Islam, Muslims are praying in the stadiums or empty places. You can make a restoration for Fethiye Mosque of Ottomans in Athens for example. We are hoping that, European Union, the champion of cultural rights, telorance, democracy, human rights, multi-culturalism and every other goods things will also deal with this problem in the future.   The same problem exists for Tessaloniki. Once there were 70 mosques in the city but now it remained only two ruined ones.

We demand only one mosque in Athens and one for Tessaloniki.......

Greek Orthodox  Churches In Istanbul

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http://www.istanbulinfolink.com/place_of_worship/churches/ch ristian_4.htm

Edited by Alparslan

According to the Treaty of Lausanne,the Muslim population of western Thrace and the christian population of Istanbul,Imvros and Tenedos were excluded from the exchange.However,from the initial population of 110.000 christian greeks of Istanbul in 1942,there are only a few now left and the Patriarch,after the pogrom in 1955 and later.Those that left their fortunes back in Istanbul,were not compensated.Also the same happened to the Greeks of Imvros and Tenedos.Their lands were confiscated by the Turkish state.
On the other hand,the Muslim Greek citizens of western Thrace in 1981 were 120.000 and their rights are respected by everyone,as citizens of Greece.They have numerous Mosques and schools for their needs.
Double standards
When Turkey becomes a member of the EU,huge money will be paid to those that suffered from the Turkish pogrom as compensation.You must be prepared to pay..
Why don't you open the theological school of Halki.How can the christian minority educate its priests without  a theological school?
When the Greeks were asked to leave Turkey,it was asked from them to become Muslim,did you know this?




Edited by RomiosArktos

Originally posted by RomiosArktos According to the Treaty of Lausanne,the Muslim population of western Thrace and the christian population of Istanbul,Imvros and Tenedos were excluded from the exchange.However,from the initial population of 110.000 christian greeks of Istanbul in 1942,there are only a few now left and the Patriarch,after the pogrom in 1955 and later.

There is no such pogrom-shameful things happened-that is right and money will be paid if reuested-but I don't think you know the definiton of pogrom-and that so called "pogrom" is not proven-nor wiely accepted, I think the Greeks are the only people that call it pogrom

Edited by The Guardian

Originally posted by The Guardian Originally posted by RomiosArktos According to the Treaty of Lausanne,the Muslim population of western Thrace and the christian population of Istanbul,Imvros and Tenedos were excluded from the exchange.However,from the initial population of 110.000 christian greeks of Istanbul in 1942,there are only a few now left and the Patriarch,after the pogrom in 1955 and later. There is no such pogrom-shameful things happened-that is right and money will be paid if reuested-but I don't think you know the definiton of pogrom-and that so called "pogrom" is not proven-nor wiely accepted, I think the Greeks are the only people that call it pogrom

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=85438&highl ight=istanbul

Which contains two points of interest:

a) Newspaper article of a vandalism on an exhibition on the 1955 pogrom

b) Turkish members stating that there was indeed a pogrom, maybe not anti-Greek in focus, but that there was a pogrom with possible political links, the implication being, of course, that the pogrom was an organised event (again, if it was politically driven).

From www.dictionary.com on the word "pogrom":

An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group, especially one conducted against Jews.

*Disclaimer: I am not wishing to start a debate on this, nor to stir up anti-Turkish feeling, but a point was made in this thread, which I felt must be addressed since it reeks of *denialism*.

Originally posted by erci magnificent tho 2 more minarets would make it even better and maybe a larger crescent on top

Yes, two more HUUUGE minarets to praise allah for giving such a magnificent gift to the people of Islam, and I definately hear you on the crescent.