First Muslim prayer in 86 years starts in Hagia Sophia

First Muslim prayer in Hagia Sophia. Photo: dha.com.tr

On July 24, 2020, the first Muslim prayer in 86 years began at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, the online publication vimaorthodoxias.gr reported.

Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan recently arrived for prayer, accompanied by his wife Emine.

Turkish officials continue to arrive at the world famous shrine.

The names of imams were announced earler in Turkey, and the interior decoration of the Hagia Sophia temple was shown.

Read also

Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America

During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.

UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference

Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.

Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site

The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.

Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches

The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.

Archbishop John: The Church is not a special group – it is open to everyone

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania explained why the Church cannot shut itself off from people and what danger arises when believers begin to feel that it is “ours.”

Shostatsky: We have a real personnel shortage in the OCU

Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) said that OCU clerics have to travel to as many as five parishes over a weekend so that believers are not left without services.