"Best regards": Erdogan signs a decree to change Hagia Sophia's status
The Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul. Photo: rbc.ru
On July 10, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree changing Hagia Sophia’s status from a museum to a mosque. The Head of State tweeted the photo of the decree with the words "Best regards".
In this decree, the Turkish President refers to the court decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia Cathedral, which was adopted a few hours earlier.
The decree also says: "Decided: to transfer the administration of Aya Sofya to the Diyanet (the Directorate for Religious Affairs of Turkey – Ed.) and open it for divine services".
As reported earlier, on July 10, 2020, the 10th Chamber of the State Council of Turkey annulled the decision of the Council of Ministers of November 24, 1934, to turn the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul from a mosque to a museum.
Read also
"Parishioners" brought to Lavra by buses on Epifaniy's name day, media
People from different regions were brought in an organized manner to the "service" of the head of the OCU at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Yermak consults fortune teller before important appointments, prosecutor says
Private correspondence with a fortune teller was found with the former head of the President's Office, in which he coordinated personnel decisions.
SBU searches home of Metropolitan Longin’s daughter
Law enforcement officers detained the hierarch's son-in-law, who has many children, and refused to allow a lawyer to participate in investigative actions at the family's private home.
Vienna hosts regional congress of Ukrainian Orthodox youth
Youth from seven European countries discussed the spiritual foundations of democracy and prayed for peace in Ukraine before a particle of the Life-Giving Cross.
Persecuted UOC community in Zadubrivka celebrates patronal feast
The faithful celebrated the Liturgy in a house church and held a water-blessing service at the site where a new church in honor of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv is being built.
Thousands of faithful gather at Pochaiv Lavra for feast of St Amphilochius
The pilgrimage to the relics of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv on his feast day is a long-standing tradition of the UOC.