Hagia Sophia - vote for Her

[Annoula]

In an effort to re-open Hagia Sophia as a Christian Church.

http://www.hagiasophiablog.com/mainpage.html


please go to the "Your Signature" section if you would like to to help bring back Hagia Sophia to Her true purpose.

thank you.

[Birgitta]

In an effort to re-open Hagia Sophia as a Christian Church.
Is this a safe link?

[Annoula]

what do you mean safe? i don't understand.

i voted there myself.

[Birgitta]

what do you mean safe? i don't understand.

i voted there myself.
Sorry... I was thinking, if it's safe to announce my e-mail. I don't want to receive any junk.

[Annoula]

Sorry... I was thinking, if it's safe to announce my e-mail. I don't want to receive any junk.


It's not a commercial site. i don't think you'll receive junk from there.

[copticorthodoxy]

i love this church , i hope it return to be used as a church again
my church in Egypt is designed like Hagia Sophia but in smaller scale

[moses916]

does the site post how many ppl voted yet, cause i can't find that anywhere.... :scratch:

[rainbowbright]

So, would it be returned to Orthodoxy?

[repentant]

Of course we want it back. St. Nicholas in Tarpon Springs is a copy of it.

[isshinwhat]

rep, are you in NW Florida?

[Annoula]

i can't find any total number of votes myself.


rainbowbright,
it's a long way till Hagia Sophia is restored as an Orthodox church.
Greek-Turkish relations should become better and i suppose the European Union should place some stress on the Turkish side for that to happen.
it is a beginning...

[psaltis]

When was the site created, Who created it?

I will support because i have been there when i was young.

[countrymouse33ad]

I would like to support it if I knew this meant Hagia Sophia would be once again an Orthodox church, but that's not clear from the website.

[moses916]

Even if Hagia Sophia will be restored in 500 years to the EO, i'm glad we had a little part in it now. Glory be to God! :crosseo:

[Quijote]

done! :thumbsup:

I suggest you let the other congregation fora here at CF know about this. I'm sure many of other Christians (of all stripes) will support this effort :thumbsup:

[Orthodox Andrew]

I signed it.

[Dewi Sant]

I voted.

I feel quite strongly about this church.

There are many churches in Greece which have been converted to mosques and then back to churches.

Some ancient Icons have been found through the plaster work of the muslims. I guess it sort of preserved them.


It would be wonderful to see the Hagia Sophia back to its orignal purpose.

[OIT]

Praying that things will change.

[Annoula]

I would like to support it if I knew this meant Hagia Sophia would be once again an Orthodox church, but that's not clear from the website.


the site is prepared by a Greek.

all Greeks are nostalgic for Hagia Sophia and we all want it back to Orthodoxy.

there are folkstories-myths of what will happen and how Hagia Sophia will be back to where she belongs.


the aim of this site is to pressure things so that procedures will start.
it's not an easy thing and we may not see it in our times, but we all want the same thing.

to stop visiting Hagia Sophia just like any other historic museum... it may have great historic significance but it's not just that for all of us.

to be able to sing Orthodox hymns and have Orthodox services as before...

[Dewi Sant]

Many cathedrals in Britain are now sort of semi-museums.

This is to help making the churches less imposing, to give the visitor an insight to what is inside those big stone boxes, to give the visitor an insight into the history and meaning of the building.

It also raises funds for the churches.


I don't know if this sort of Visitors time would work for an Orthodox church. But it is a compromise between museum and church.

What is oftenly found is that in these churches and cathedrals the services will continue but there will be signs up and about telling the visitors to keep quiet and not to take flash photography. This means that sevices such as Even Song can be conducted while still having visitors.

It also enables the visitor to sit and take in the atmosphere.




I don't know, it could work. It would be a middle step.

[Annoula]

hi ramesses,

i am not sure if i get your point.

the difference with Britain and cathedreals there, is that Hagia Sophia is an Orthodox Christian church in Constantinople in Turkey which is a highly Islamic country.

Christians are suppressed and as far as i know there's not even an official greek orthodox minority in Constantinople. all orthodox had fleed or taken the turkish citizenship (if my wording is correct) in order to be able to have some rights in Turkey.

for example, if you were a greek orthodox christian your children could not inherit you.

additionally, the Orthodox Patriarchate is in Constantinople.


Hagia Sophia used to be a mosque before it was turned into a museum.

[Dewi Sant]

I knew about the Hagia Sophia being a mosque. That is what those awful minarets are for.


I think that the reclaimation of the Hagia Sophia would cause great instability between the Islamic and Christian community.

It is awkward with Constantinople now being the Turkish Capitol, where did the Turkish people come from before they claimed former Byzantium?

[HandmaidenOfGod]

My concerns with this site are:

a) It doesn't say who it's run by.
b) How are e-mail votes from foreigners going to have any impact on the Turkish govt., or the EU Parliment? :confused:

It just doesn't make sense to me.

I think it would be more condusive for us to write to the appropriate heads of state to pressure the Turks and the EU to restore the Hagia Sophia to an Orthodox Church, and to allow religious freedom in Turkey.

Just my two cents...

In XC,

Maureen