[24]. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, 37th and O Streets, N.W. However, Erdoans revanchist move intensifies domestic and global tensions around religion. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan's move to (re)convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque created two responses from American Muslims. 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]. For the occasion, the mosaics of the Christian era were covered with black cloth or darkened with tricks of light and shadow. Esra Akcan, Hagia Sophia and Islamist Nation-Building Sign up to receive more information about our events and programs. But today, we should try to heal such wounds of the past, not open new ones. In the same way that when you visit Paris you go check out the Eiffel Tower, or when you visit Athens you make sure to go to the Acropolis, when in Istanbul you make a beeline for Hagia Sophia. Just like in Barcelonas Sagrada Familia and the Vaticans St. Peters Basilica, there is a dress code to adhere to in order to enter this religious building. [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. Thinking about this monument What concrete steps were taken to convert Hagia Sophia to a mosque? R. Cristiano, Quel che lEuropa distratta non capisce di Santa Sofia, inReset. Does Re-Converting Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Violate Secularism in Turkey? See L. Padovese et al.,Turchia. What will happen to the Hagia Sophia now that it's a mosque again The recent anti-Muslim policies in France are a good reminder that Muslim minorities are not secure even in secular democracies. To repress Muslim minorities, oppressors around the world can employ Turkeys sovereignty argument to change the status of Hagia Sophia. Beginning with the episode of Caliph Omar who, when he entered Jerusalem and was offered the opportunity to pray in a church, refused out of respect for the Christian faithful.[15]. pic.twitter.com/2mor93MlJy. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. Although Mehmed II, in line with the norms of his time, converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the conquest in 1453, he provided religious minorities with strong protections as compared to his contemporaries. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, in the historic neighborhood of Sultanahmet which comprises other treasures of Turkish history, including the Blue Mosque (just a couple of minutes walk away), the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Basilica Cistern all of which are very much worth your time. Changing the secular space back into a religious one is a. Would the Prophet Muhammad Convert Hagia Sophia? - The New York Times Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Reopens as a Mosque - The New York Times Le reazioni del mondo, inAvvenire, July 14, 2020; Le reazioni alla trasformazione di Santa Sofia in moschea (www.retesicomoro.it/reazioni-trasformazione-santa-sofia), July 16, 2020. Christians feared a massacre, but instead found aman, or safety. In his last homily, on May 30, 2010, he said:In Turkey one learns to accept diversity, but it is also important to be accepted. Turkeys leading press union puts number of jailed journalists at 21, Turkey rejects humanitarian disaster, genocide claims against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkish foreign ministry summons Danish, Dutch diplomats over Quran burnings, Ship carrying grain linked to occupied Crimea allowed to dock in Turkey: report, Turkish FM to visit Kyiv to discuss alternatives to grain deal: report. Hagia Sophia stripped of museum status, paving its return to a mosque The Diocese of Parramatta reaffirms the wise axiom attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; in all things, charity. In this spirit, Catholic Outlook publishes a variety of Catholic viewpoints. In history, the sultans behaved differently. 4, 1020: 10.32009/22072446.1020.4. Its change to a museum in 1934 signaled the secular orientation of modern Turkey's founding father, Kemal Atatrk. A. Lomonaco B. Capelli, Dieci anni fa veniva ucciso monsignor Padovese, vescovo del dialogo, inVatican News, June 2, 2020. Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum, honouring all previous Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic history, making . 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. July 27, 2020, Response: Hagia Sophia and Islamist Nation-Building: Hijacking the Conservative Architectural Imaginary, Blent Batuman Here are some tips. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. (eds. Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh, History and Boundary-Building at the Hagia Sophia laciviltacattolica.com/human-fraternity-for-world-peace-and-life-together/). There is no need to be secular anymore.''. [18]. Finally, Erdoans move contributes to religious nationalism that relegates religion into an ideology and detracts it from being a moral compass. mr Harmanah, Hagia Sophias Status Change Threatens Cultural Rights Would the Prophet Muhammad Convert Hagia Sophia? Caliph Umar, the servant of God and the commander of the faithful, gave them security for their possessions, their churches and crosses. He further assured: Their churches shall not be taken for residence and shall not be demolished nor shall their crosses be removed.. What circumstances prompted the conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque? They have become preservers of Christian art. The Hagia Sophia Was a Cathedral, a Mosque and a Museum. It's 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. The way people visit Hagia Sophia is very different now that its been switched back into a mosque: The conversion from museum to mosque has somewhat affected the interior of this renowned building. www.lastampa.it/esteri/2020/08/21/news/turchia-dopo-santa-sofia-diventa-moschea-la-chiesa-museo-di-san-salvatore-in-chora-1.39215867. Hagia Sophia: From Museum to Mosque - Berkley Center for Religion Erdogan declares Hagia Sophia a mosque after Turkish court ruling [5]. 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. The gigantic circular medallions reproduce the names of Allah, the prophet Muhammad, the first four caliphs and the two nephews of Muhammad. But the intervention of Russia in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad stopped him. Hagia Sophia first became a mosque when the Ottomans conquered Constantinoplesoon renamed Istanbulin 1453. In 1934-35, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish government secularized the building and turned it into a museum. Ive been asked why the Hagia Sophia stinks. In 1985, Hagia Sophia was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. So when those first Muslims were persecuted in pagan Mecca, some found asylum in the Christian kingdom in Ethiopia. Only some 29 percent believe it is motivated by a desire to return the museum back into a mosque, according to the poll. What Happens to Cultural Rights With Hagia Sophia Transformation? Divide Santa Sofia riconvertita in moschea. In short, the decision to (re)convert Hagia Sophia to a mosque will damage the tolerant Muslim legacies of coexistence, fuel Islamophobia, and contribute to the rise of religious nationalism that undermines religion in the long run. Anti-Westernism is also a constituting element of Turkish Islamism since the West is considered as complicit in Turkeys top-down secularization process. Since assuming power, Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, have made Turkey more religious and conservative, including by relaxing strict secular laws that barred women from wearing Islamic headscarves in schools and public offices. I luoghi delle origini cristiane,op. If you prefer an Airbnb to a hotel, check out Matadors selection of Airbnbs in Istanbul to experience the best of the city. This video focuses on Hagia Sophia after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453. July 27, 2020. At the end of the visit he wrote in Greek characters in the Golden Book of Guests:HagiaSophia tou Theou,The Holy Wisdom of God. In their place, geometric designs and intricate wooden carvings were set up. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan recently issued a decree converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, ending its 80-year status as a museum. There is no need to be secular anymore," one supporter of the move said. Think you could handle it? Although it suffered earthquake damage, two partial collapses, and underwent additions, the edifice that stands today in Istanbul is largely the one that was built in the sixth century. "It is regrettable that the Turkish decision was made without any form of dialogue or prior notice, the statement continued. Sign up for our newsletter and event information. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On behalf of the Greek government, the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, called the decision of the Turkish court a provocation to the civilised world. She also made it clear that she did not want to interfere in the internal politics of the Turkish government, but underlined the unique value and ecumenical nature of the monument for humanity. Finally, she said that the decision revealed the nationalism of the Turkish President and takes his country back six centuries. 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 central 160-foot-tall dome, built between 532 and 537 and restored several times over the centuries, is one of its most impressive features, along with the precious and spectacular mosaics that adorn its inside and the marble used throughout. Why Erdogan Wants Hagia Sophia to Be a Mosque - The New York Times Erdoan and the Hagia Sophia: Nostalgia for the Ottoman Empire, Turkeys Hagia Sophia Decision: A Stone That Hits No Birds, Hagia Sophia, Islamism, and Secularism in Turkey. Mehmet the Conqueror took the holy city with his sword, he always wanted Hagia Sophia to be a mosque, Ozlem Kaya, 52, a homemaker from Istanbul, said ahead of the decision, referring to the 15th-century Ottoman sultan who captured the city, then known as Constantinople. July 27, 2020. The Hagia Sophia that stands today was originally built as the cathedral for the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in the sixth century, and became a mosque in 1453 with the Ottoman conquest of . How did the functions of Hagia Sophia change or stay the same when it was converted to a mosque? Revanche sur le trait de Svres, inLe Monde, August 2-3, 2020, 14. Converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque will not add much to exhibit Ottoman heritage. This iconic Turkish structure (a UNESCO Heritage site since 1985) has had a tumultuous history filled with destruction and conversions, but it still stands tall and proud in the historic neighborhood of Sultanahmet as it has for past 1,500 years. There are only 16 beautifully decorated rooms and suites in this property, making for intimate and luxurious stay. Hagia Sophia: World Council of Churches appeals to Turkey on mosque Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, in June. An Islamist government that is associated with corruption and injustice led to the decline of piety among certain segments of Turkish society, as Ahmet Kuru wrote in this forum. This was a way to relate to Europe and attempt dialogue with European sovereigns. July 30, 2020, Response: Compression of History and Boundary-Building in the Hagia Sophia Controversy, Belgin Turan zkaya [8] Cf. Hagia Sophia, an stanbul landmark with a history dating back more than 1,500 years, is again in the spotlight due to an unpleasant odor that has led to complaints three years after it was converted from a museum to a mosque by the Turkish government, local media reported Monday. Restoring Hagia Sophia as a mosque is a capstone of his reign, Mr. Cagaptay said. The Prophets spirit was best exemplified by his second successor, or caliph, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, soon after his conquest of Jerusalem in the year 637. With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research In addition, Erdoans party lost local elections in Ankara and Istanbul in March, as well as the re-run of the vote in the capital, granted because of electoral fraud on May 25, 2019. In the Turkish case, Islamists positioned themselves mainly against Kemalism, Turkeys founding ideology of secular nationalism. Il Turco alla porta, No. Modest clothing is required of visitors (no short shorts, no tank tops, etc.) [9] See the editorial of Le Monde, July 26-27, 2020; F. Peloso, Erdogan usa la religione per non perdere il potere, inInternazionale, July 31, 2020. It has had several names over time, including the ancient name of Byzantium. On July 10, a Turkish court announced its decision to permit President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regime to convert the ancient Christian church Hagia Sophia -- the Church of the Holy Wisdom -- into a mosque. Today the Greeks still call it Constantinople. Earlier in a big win for the president's conservative Islamic agenda, Turkey's highest administrative court threw its weight behind a motion brought by a religious group, annulling a 1934 ruling that turned the building into a museum. Man detained in front of ministry for protesting high cost of living in Turkey, VOA Turkish given 72-hour deadline to avoid access ban, Kurdish musician undergoing treatment for cancer arrested on terror-related charges, Unpleasant odor in Hagia Sophia leads to concerns about preservation after reversion to mosque, Passenger bus accident leaves 12 dead in central Turkey, Russians establish over 2,000 companies in Turkey in last 18 months amid sanctions: report, Hungarys MVM to buy gas from Turkeys BOTAS in groundbreaking deal, Turkey begins rolling back costly FX-protected deposits: report, Gold imports in Turkey increase fivefold in second quarter amid economic uncertainty, Turkeys public budget swings to surplus after July tax increases: report. Turkey's decision to change the former cathedral into a mosque flies against the pluralist instincts of Islam's founders. Hagia Sophia is set to become a mosque Salvator Barki/Getty Images. Built 1,500 years ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. In May journalist Engin Aar, a correspondent for the pro-opposition TELE1 TV station, was briefly detained for reporting on the damage to Hagia Sophia. This incident, coupled with allegations of damage to historic marbles in the mosque, drew international attention and concerns about the landmarks preservation. Turkey was required to renounce all claims on Cyprus, Syria and Iraq. In the words of the Turkish scholar Necmeddin Guney, this legitimatization of conversion of churches came from not the Quran nor the Prophetic example, but rather administrative regulation. The jurists who made this case, he adds, were probably trying to create a society that makes manifest the supremacy of Islam in an age of religion wars.. Hagia Sophia, an stanbul landmark with a history dating back more than 1,500 years, is again in the spotlight due to an unpleasant odor that has led to complaints three years after it was converted from a museum to a mosque by the Turkish government, local media reported Monday. Erdoan and the Hagia Sophia: Nostalgia for the Ottoman Empire, Turkeys Hagia Sophia Decision: A Stone That Hits No Birds, Hagia Sophia, Islamism, and Secularism in Turkey. ; it would have taken the name Byzantium from kingByzas, orByzantas. The 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, will become an active mosque beginning on July 24, ending its 85-year run as a secular museum. It's Converting Again. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Turkey, and in 2019 was admired by almost four million visitors. Now that Aya Sofya will be used as an active worship space, its unclear what will change in terms of visitor access. 2023 Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, The Culture of Encounter and the Global Agenda, Politicization of Religion in Global Perspective, Religion and the Crisis of Displaced Persons, Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy, Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, justifications in Islamic jurisprudence for the conversion, status of Christians in Turkey and Muslims in France, multicultural legacies in international forums, report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Muslim minorities are not secure even in secular democracies, The Crisis of Religiosity in Turkish Islamism, A Nation in Fight with Itself: The Hagia Sophia between Ideas and Elites. But the conqueror of Jerusalem in 1187 is still waiting for his visit.[23]. 20057. 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. The term New Rome was used by Paul the Silentiary,Description of Hagia Sophia, v. 165 and theAddress to Two Romes(vv. Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles (architects), Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 532-37. Battle over whether Turkey's Hagia Sophia should be a mosque or museum Minarets were built on the exterior and a minbar and a mihrab in the naos. E un ritorno che divide, inAvvenire, July 10, 2020. 12 June 1935 The Turks have carried out another quiet revolution. The implications of transitioning the site into a mosque are far reaching. Response: Is the Conversion of Hagia Sophia Into a Mosque an Islamic Act? Response: Why is Hagia Sophia's (Re)Conversion into a Mosque Bad for Muslims? July 29, 2020, Response: Beyond Conquest Narratives: Hagia Sophia, Past and Present, Patricia Blessing Turkeys Christian community, for example, is believed to number around 100,000 people, a tiny fraction in a country of more than 83 million. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan re-converted Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque Friday, hours after a court ruled that a 1930s decision to make the iconic building into a museum had . His son, Bayezid II, welcomed the Jews who escaped from Spain after the Reconquista. [17], Beyond the wide-ranging reactions recorded, Erdoans gesture could be interpreted as an affront to theDocument on Human Fraternity for World Peace, as it represents a denial of what Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar signed: Freedom is the right of every person; each individual should enjoy the freedom of belief, thought, expression and action. The awe-inspiring edifice, built as an Orthodox cathedral and later used for centuries as . Catt. Does he want to oppose Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates and Egypt, as a defender of Islam in the third millennium, converting Hagia Sophia to mosque again? (previous page). See Procopius of Caesarea, whose works are collected in the volumeSanta Sofia di Costantinopoli. But some Muslims, including myself, are not fully comfortable with this historic step, and for a good reason: forced conversion of shrines, which has occurred too many times in human history in all directions, can be questioned even from a purely Islamic point of view. Unpleasant odor in Hagia Sophia leads to concerns about preservation The use of religion in political contestations creates a backlash against not only those who use religion but the religion itself. 2023 Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, The implications of transitioning the site into a mosque are far reaching. Erdogan said in a decree shared on Twitter that he had handed the majestic domed building over to the governments directorate of religious affairs to open it up to worshipers. I luoghi delle origini cristiane,op. Turkey's Erdogan re-converts Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into mosque - NBC News Located in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, just a three-minute walk to Hagia Sophia, the Seven Hills Hotel is a boutique property whose on-site seafood restaurant offers incredible views of the mosque. The Prophet Muhammad and his small group of believers saw the earlier monotheists Jews and Christians as allies. The Christian artworks had been rediscovered and partially restored prior to this change. Why the Hagia Sophia's Conversion Back Into a Mosque Is Controversial The decision was approved by Turkey's conservative president, who's already restored three other Byzantine church. [4]You can still admire there some magnificent mosaics on a golden background, which cover the vaults, domes and walls. Response: Does Re-Converting Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Violate Secularism in Turkey? Why the Hagia Sophia's Conversion Back Into a Mosque Is - Observer This involved a limited decentralisation for religious groups, in particular the Greek Orthodox. Explore Turkey's Artistic Side at This Rural Arthouse Retreat, Download the 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. Take a second to support Turkish Minute on Patreon! Figures such as Sayyid M. Syeed, president of the Islamic Society North America, found the move un-Islamic and counterproductive to Muslim interests globally. During summer 2014 and 2015, I taught a study abroad course in which I took 26 students from Nebraska to Turkey. Istanbul's Hagia Sophia looks set to become a mosque after court ruling, Thousands of migrants risk lives to cross from Turkey to Greece, prayed outside the building over the years. Muslims contributed to the city with great architectural works. Hagia Sophia: Turkey turns iconic Istanbul museum into mosque This religious pluralism was also reflected in the Quran, when it said God protects monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of God is much mentioned. (22:40) It is the only verse in the Quran that mentions churches and only in a reverential tone. [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 Arasta Bazaar, Glhane Park, and Sirkeci metro station are also all located within 0.6 mile of the mansions. The edifice is a working mosque since July 2020 and a very popular tourist attraction in Istanbul. He first visited the tomb of Muhammad II, the Conqueror, and then he himself started the prayer a unique event that does not normally happen in any Muslim country by reading asurafrom theKorancalled of victory or of conquest., In fact, the date of July 24 was not chosen by chance. However, almost a century later, the country still wrestles with how its secular governance intersects with the fact that it is predominantly Muslim. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. DOI: La Civilt Cattolica, En. [25]. What is Hagia Sophia and why is it so famous? All rights reserved. What circumstances prompted the conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque? Yet still, the early Muslim conquerors did something uncommon at the time: They did not touch the shrines of the subjugated peoples. [9], On August 20, the Turkish president signed another decree that transformed the church-museum of the Holy Saviour in Chora into a mosque. Umut Azak Religiosity is decreasing among Turkish youth under the Islamist government. Hagia Sophia: Former Istanbul museum welcomes Muslim worshippers - BBC Whats a worthy alternative to the Trans-Siberian railway? They have abandoned the use of Saint Sophia as a mosque. The rooms and suites are modern and elegant, all featuring bathroom amenities and tea/coffee-making equipment. Describing the interior as stuffy and filled with an unpleasant odor, Soylus comments sparked a flurry of online discussions. Washington, Hagia Sophia & Its Transformations | SAPIENTIA 135-167), in M. L. Fobelli Un tempio per Giustiniano. However, to understand the move, we need to go back a few years. For more information read our privacy policy. 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 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. The trouble with making Hagia Sophia a mosque again D.C. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Mustafa Kemal, too, when he transformed the mosque into a museum in 1934, gave a signal to the Orthodox Balkan countries he wanted to befriend. July 31, 2020, Response: The Conversion of Hagia Sophia: Desire, Spectacle, and a Historical Re-Enactment, mr Harmanah For the religious conservatives who have rallied behind President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the past two decades, the main answer seems to be imperial glory embodied in an absolute ruler. The basilica has gone down in history as one of the greatest architectural masterpieces ever.[5]. centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world. July 27, 2020, Response: Hagia Sophia and Turkish Anxiety to Lead the Muslim World, Ihsan Yilmaz
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