Primate of UOC speaks about his attitude to altered Hagia Sophia’s status
Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, said that he has a negative attitude to the conversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
“This is a Christian church, and it should belong to those who built it,” said the Primate of the UOC, answering a question from journalists of the Pavlovsky News project. "But Turkey is a different state, it has different laws, different rules."
He added that the Church is praying for the return of Hagia Sophia.
“We do not seize mosques and expect no one to seize our temples either," His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry summed up.
As a reminder, on July 10, 2020, the Turkish State Council cancelled the government decree granting the status of a museum to Hagia Sophia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the resumption of Muslim worship in Hagia Sophia and on July 24, the first Friday prayer in 86 years was held in the Cathedral.
Read also
Met. Varsonofiy сelebrates Liturgy at persecuted UOC parish in Stryzhavka
A UOC hierarch officiated the Nativity service and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.
Seized Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr transferred from UOC to OCU control
Huz stated that after being handed to the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr will be “Ukrainian and alive”.
In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots
The Vatican Secretary of State spoke at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary and recalled Europe’s spiritual mission.
388 mln Christians face persecution and discrimination over faith – report
The organization Portes Ouvertes has published research findings concluding that pressure on believers worldwide has intensified.
Archbishop of Albania: Orthodoxy is a key pillar of Albania’s European path
During a visit to Brussels, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church underscored the importance of Orthodoxy for the country’s integration into the EU and for maintaining interreligious balance in society.
His Beatitude leads divine service at Lavra on Circumcision of the Lord feast
During the festive service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, special prayers were offered for peace on the Ukrainian land and for God’s blessing upon the new year.