If both Eastern Orthodox and Catholics feel so much dispair about losing Hagia Sophia, even unto this day. Than why not build a replacement to Hagia Sophia a twin Hagia Sophia in another non Muslim land for the Ecumenical Patriarch. Since he will probably be the only Christian living in Istanbul in a few years time anyway. Maybe Greece would be a good place.

Ever hear of the Avignon papacy, bkovacs?

Slava Isusu Khrestu

Turkey would be all to happy to have the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarchate out of Turkey and somewhere else!

Interestingly, you can take out any Christian icons and artifacts of historical origin but if there is a hint that you have taken out a Turkish historical item ...then God help you!!!!

The Ecumenical Patriarchate would appear to be a thorn in the side of Turkey.

I believe that they are just waiting...in time, there will be no native born Greek Orthodox Turkish citizen who will asscend the ancient seat of St Andrew! Only time!!!!!!!!!!!

Unworthy and a sinner

Kolya

As said as it would be to comprehend the necessity of such a day, I agree that perhaps somewhere like outside Athens a replica of Hagia Sophia could be built, though such an undertaking would cost an untold fortune in today's money and perhaps not be fiscally possible, even with financial backing of the State of Greece and other Orthodox (and Catholic?) countries.

Things like this don't come cheap, and it helps when you have an emperor in charge who can simply demand it!

Alexis

I am deeply concerned for the Christians in Turkey and the Holy Land, etc.., but I am not so concerned re: the pentarchy, and I personally struggle with the feeling that it is not terribly helpful anymore. Particularly as it seems like Moscow & Constantinople have a sort of "cold war" going on in America and elsewhere, as they try and consolidate their areas of influence and power. It is not terribly edifying.

I always wondered about a swap. The Cathedral in Spain (was a Mosque) for the Hagia Sophia. Wouldn't that be a wonderful ecumenical event?

Christians exist in Turkey. I saw them on tv But kidding aside I've talked to more than one Turkish Christian in my life.
While we all lament the loss of the Agia Sophia we must remember that the faith isn't the bricks and mortar of a building regardless of that building's importance in the development of Near Eastern and Western Culture for the last 1500 years. Yes we would all love to carry icon banners in a festal procession in Agia Sophia. But I know a priest that once said that Orthodoxy is completed at the altar when we stand before the awesome Mysteries of Christ. That exists in Turkey. It always will exist in Turkey and throughout the world because Christ said the gates of Hades shall not prevail against His Church.

As the abbot of one of the monasteries on Mount Athos said, Hagia Sophia is just a place and the Byzantine Empire is just a phase in history.

The real Hagia Sophia, the place where humans worship God and "do not know whether they're in heaven or on Earth" is the Church.

As for why they don't build another one, you do have to remember that the services that were conducted there (at least until the 4th crusade) were similar, but still in many ways different from those of today. Today's usage, for instance, derives from monastic use and is designed to be do-able in a fairly small space. Hagia Sophia's liturgy required lots of people and lots of time, procession, and ceremonies - in some eras it was the only place public worship was conducted in the entire city.

So, I'm not much convinced that another one is necessary. Besides, there is another (smaller) one in Thessalonica, and I don't believe that the "old" liturgy is conducted there anymore either.

There are numerous prophecies in both the Russian and Greek Church which speak of the return of The City to the Greeks and the return of Orthodoxy to Anatolia as well as a general flowering of Christianity throughout Europe and the near east following a period of great war and strife. Most recently the Elder Paisios of Mont Athos was adamant that some of his followers who are alive today would one day carry holy banners in procession as Constantinople was returned to the Orthodox. Mere dreams? This century of ours may tell otherwise. We shall see.

Here's a new You Tube video that has some Greek chant set inside Hagia Sophia.

Anyone here understand the Greek?

That greek chant is absolutely gorgeous (so is the church). I long for the day we can learn to do that in our church. For now I will have to enjoy the Melkites'.

It is also held widely by prophecy that Russia will somehow be the catalyst for its return to Christianity. That doesn't sound far fetched, but would imply a great, great war...

It says that it is from a concert during Holy Week, so it is one of the Holy Week chants...

As Stuart mentioned to me, and I agree, this concert looks as if it is computer imposed. I doubt very much that it would have been allowed by the Turkish government to be shot in the church.

Alice,

Are you suggesting that conversions will come as the result of military force?

Alice are you aware of a prophetic utterance of Padre Pio concerning Russia, that it will be the one who reunites the Orthodox world with the Church of Rome. He also spoke of the shedding of the blood of JP II.
I had a visit of a Russian Studite who visited us in Iceland back in the late 70's he had been offered asylum at San Giovanni Rotondo.
These are intersting times.

Anyway it was beautiful. May our Blessed Lord, the Theotokos and all the Saints and Angels begin appearing to people around the city of Constantinople and convert many hearts to Christ, and may the DL resound again from the wall of Hagia Sophia!
Stephanos I

I pray continually now since my return from this Holy Place.

Alice,
We have probably read and heard of the same prophecies. Personally, I believe them but I agree that great war would have to happen first. Elder Paisios, when asked how Constantinople would be returned to the Greeks stated something to the effect that things would be so bad by that point that no fight would be necessary, the Turks would simply hand it over. For that to happen things would have to indeed be pretty bad... Again, we shall see. If this is so may Our Lord allow to fall to us only that which we can bear. As for Russia bringing Christianity back to Europe, I have also heard of this. For me as well, it doesn't sound far fetched. S Bohem, Cyril

According to tradition, the concelebrants of the Divine Liturgy at 'Agia Sophia on Tuesday, 29 May 1453, were two presbyters, Catholic and Orthodox. When the invaders approached the Holy Table, the southern wall opened and, at the direction of an angel, the presbyters passed through it with the Holy Gifts in hand.

The wall closed behind them, not to reopen until the Interrupted Liturgy can be resumed, when the presbyters will re-enter through the wall by which they departed.

Many years,

Neil

Irish Melkite,
Thank you for writing this tradition. I have never heard this before. It is very beautiful and yet very sad.

I would think that the Islamists would consider even a computer made Orthodox service inside Haghia Sofiya to be blasphemy if they saw this video.

What was the significance and symbolism of the rope dropping to the ground? Any one Know?
Stephanos I

Prayers and may it be so...and if we continue to pray, even through the generations, God will answer this prayer, though as we faithful know, God's time is not our time, so we may not be alive to see it.

Thank you, dear Father Stephen, for your loving and caring heart. If you have a moment when you are not too busy, please give us your thoughts from your trip there.

Respectfully,
In Christ our Lord,
Alice

Before we begin the great and solemn Holy Week. One of my strongest memories was actually one of great sadness, that where the faith was so strong and vibrant it is now surplanted by a lack of faith. And it grieved me so to see the sublte persecutions and domination of Christians by Muslims.
Stephanos I
If not us whom?
If not now, when?