Turkish police detain Greeks for Byzantine flag in Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia. Photo: UOJ
On April 9, 2026, two tourists from Greece were detained in Istanbul after attempting to unfurl a Byzantine flag inside Hagia Sophia, reports Orthodoxia.info.
The incident occurred in the afternoon on Holy Thursday during an organized tour. A man and woman passed standard entrance security checks, then went up to the upper gallery where they took out a flag hidden under their clothing for photography.
Security personnel responded promptly to the situation: noticing what was happening through surveillance cameras, they immediately went up to the gallery and stopped the attempt to display the flag.
The tourists were then handed over to law enforcement authorities. They are currently facing court proceedings where they are charged with public insult. The situation has caused notable public response, considering the historical and religious significance of Hagia Sophia for the Orthodox world.
Previously, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the importance of developing good neighborly relations between Greece and Turkey, noting the significance of dialogue and mutual respect for stability in the region.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the European Parliament condemned Turkey for deportations of Christians from the country.
Read also
Bondarenko: Fragments of downed drone fell on Kyiv Lavra
The political scientist said that social media posts about the Lavra bear the signs of a coordinated, commissioned campaign.
Jesuit Order closes its oldest community in Belgium over declining numbers
In Liège, an official farewell was held for the representatives of the Society of Jesus, whose uninterrupted presence in the region had lasted since the 16th century.
UOC eparchies organize summer camps for children
Young believers in the Poltava and Sumy dioceses spent a week at Orthodox camps.
Zelensky calls strike on Moscow a response to shelling of Kyiv Lavra
The Ukrainian president justified the raids on Moscow as a necessary response to the damage inflicted on an Orthodox shrine.
Scandal erupts in Georgia over ruins of 6th-century church
The National Heritage Protection Agency accused a diocese of the Georgian Church of illegally demolishing an ancient basilica.
Zelensky shows Trump photos of Lavra's burning Dormition Cathedral
Images of the burning Dormition Cathedral reportedly moved the U.S. president deeply.