Greek hierarch calls to build new Hagia Sophia in place of the present one
Metropolitan Nikolaos (Hatzinikolaou) of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki. Photo: romfea.gr
On July 24, 2020, the hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Nikolaos (Hatzinikolaou) of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, proposed to build a new temple of the Wisdom of God instead of Hagia Sophia in Turkey.
“Perhaps now is the right time, in response to the disrespectful provocation and insult of Turkey – the conversion of the historic Christian temple of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, that the entire Greek nation should begin the construction of a new majestic temple of the Wisdom of God at the initiative of the Holy Synod and with the assistance of the Greek state,” the information outlet Romfea cited Metropolitan Nikolaos.
The hierarch noted that in this way the Greeks would be able to fulfill an old vow of their heroic ancestors.
"To build a temple at the entrance to our country from the Athens airport ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’, on the hill in Paeania, that is, in the area that was designated twenty years ago, but it was not possible to build an Islamic mosque there," Metropolitan Nikolaos suggested.
Today, on July 24, the first Muslim prayer in 86 years began in Hagia Sophia.
Read also
OCU cleric responds to Hryshchuk's provocations at funerals for AFU soldiers
Sofroniy Chuprina refuted claims about the necessity of opening the Royal Doors during funeral services.
Kosmach residents accuse OCU monks of supporting "Russian world" ideas
Parishioners of the OCU stated that the monastery residents near the village of Kosmach use pro-Russian rhetoric, preventing them from switching to the "new calendar".
Medieval church in England safeguarded with National Lottery funds
The preservation of a 13th-century church in Leicestershire was made possible thanks to money from British National Lottery draws.
Lavra Reserve marks centenary of Bolshevik seizure of the monastery
Reconstructions of museum exhibits from the “museum town,” which the Bolsheviks proclaimed within the monastery walls, were staged by the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve.
Sweden stops state support for Islamic organizations in country
The Swedish government has officially stopped all taxpayer-funded grants to the aid organization Islamic Relief Sweden (IRS) after an investigation revealed risks of connections to extremism.
Head of Montenegro’s schismatics meet with Phanar representative in Rome
A Finnish archbishop under the Phanar’s jurisdiction held a meeting with a representative of an uncanonical church structure from Montenegro.