Greek Ministry of Culture: Turkey can be culturally isolated due to Sophia
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com
The Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated that with his decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque, Erdogan "isolates Turkey culturally", reports "Orthodox Times”.
The decision of the Turkish Council of State to change the status of Hagia Sophia is “the result of the political will of Turkish President Erdogan” and also “is a blatant provocation against the whole civilised world that recognises the unique value and the universality of the monument,” the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said in a statement.
She added, “The nationalism shown by President Erdogan is not appropriate for the situation and, therefore, he leads his country six centuries back.” She also stressed, “Hagia Sophia does not lose its glamour and its universal nature, only because the Turkish Council of State gave in, President Erdogan has decided to isolate Turkey culturally.”
The Greek official also stressed that in her opinion, the decision of the Turkish Council of State fully confirmed that there was “no judicial independence in Turkey”.
As reported earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree changing the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque.
Read also
Medieval сhurch сrumbles as Culture Ministry сites missing agreement
The 14th–15th-century St. Nicholas Church in Chesnyky, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, is falling into disrepair.
Poland сondemns Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2007 year of UPA
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the Lviv Regional Council's decision to dedicate 2027 to the UPA and Roman Shukhevych is harmful to Ukraine.
OCU seeks court recognition of ownership of seized Cherkasy cathedral
The Cherkasy Regional Commercial Court will hear an OCU lawsuit seeking ownership of St. Michael's Cathedral, which was seized from UOC believers.
Lithuanian bishop: Ukraine is no model for believers' rights
Vicar of Vilnius Diocese voices concern over attempts to import Ukraine's religious conflict into Lithuania.
Hundreds of believers honor St. Alexis of Carpatho-Russia in Khust Eparchy
At the St. Nicholas Monastery in the village of Iza-Karputlash, Metropolitan Mark of Khust led a festive liturgy, concelebrated by six metropolitans, five archbishops and three bishops.
Court upholds UOC parish appeal in Voloshky over OCU switch dispute
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of the St. Nicholas parish of the UOC in the village of Voloshky, Volyn region, in a dispute over a transfer to the OCU.