Turkey Officially Converts Istanbul’s Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque

[Michie]

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship.

Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted The Church of St. Saviour in Chora — also known as Chora Church and Kariye in Turkish — into a mosque after it had turned Istanbul’s landmark Haghia Sophia into a Muslim prayer space.

“May it bring good fortune,” Erdogan said of the conversion during the televised event.

Chora Church has stood for 17 centuries and famous for its mosaics and frescoes depicting the life of Jesus and Mary.

Last week, Religion Unplugged’s Roberta Ahmanson interviewed Alexei Lidov, noted art historian and Byzantinist, on the past and future of Chora Church as a result of Erdogan’s actions.

Continued below.

Turkey Officially Converts Istanbul’s Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship. Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted Chora Church into a mosque after

religionunplugged.com

 

[AlexB23]

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship.

Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted The Church of St. Saviour in Chora — also known as Chora Church and Kariye in Turkish — into a mosque after it had turned Istanbul’s landmark Haghia Sophia into a Muslim prayer space.

“May it bring good fortune,” Erdogan said of the conversion during the televised event.

Chora Church has stood for 17 centuries and famous for its mosaics and frescoes depicting the life of Jesus and Mary.

Last week, Religion Unplugged’s Roberta Ahmanson interviewed Alexei Lidov, noted art historian and Byzantinist, on the past and future of Chora Church as a result of Erdogan’s actions.

Continued below.

Turkey Officially Converts Istanbul’s Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship. Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted Chora Church into a mosque after

religionunplugged.com

That is what happens when church and state, or in this case, mosque and state are not separated. Politicians can choose when to declare a church building a mosque, or shut down the church entirely. Hopefully the Muslims preserve the Christian art and architecture inside this 1700 year old building.

 

[RileyG]

How sad.

 

[AlexB23]

How sad.

Agreed. We should pray for Turkish Christians, and Christians in Muslim countries.

 

[RileyG]

Agreed. We should pray for Turkish Christians, and Christians in Muslim countries.

Amen!

 

[AlexB23]

Amen!

Amen to that.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

That is what happens when church and state, or in this case, mosque and state are not separated. Politicians can choose when to declare a church building a mosque, or shut down the church entirely. Hopefully the Muslims preserve the Christian art and architecture inside this 1700 year old building.

Or maybe Christians learn from the Muslims and reopen buildings which were once Churches (but are no longer so) as Churches once more. Why get mad at Erdogan for doing what Muslims do naturally.

 

[Michie]

Photos.

Former Byzantine Church converted to a mosque in Istanbul is reopened

The Church of St. Savior in Chora was converted into a mosque in 1511, then became a museum in 1948 for 72 years before being reopened this month for Muslim worship.

www.catholicnewsagency.com