www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Hagia Sophia - A Church Again

I receieved this in an email today. Looks legit. Can it be?

The European Union Parliament is pressuring the Turkish Government to restore Saint Sophia Cathedral from a museum into a Greek Orthodox Church. However the Parliament has set a requirement of 1.000.000 signatures on a petition before it makes this conversation a prerequisite for Turkey�s admission into the European Union.

You are requested to cast your vote by logging on to a link at WWW.hagiasophiablog.com. [www.hagiasophiablog.com.] This is an opportunity for each of you to have an impact on world events. Get as many Greek Orthodox, other Orthodox and Christian friends of yours to sign the petition and make history.

Hagia Sophia Web Vote [www.hagiasophiablog.com]

Turkey's number one industry is tourism, and the largest segment of this is related to Byzantine Christian relics. The irony of course is that the Turks expended so much effort over the centuries in destroying the Christian heritage of Byzantium. If only they could put "Humpty Dumpty together again" - their economy would sore. Perhaps this is the argument they should use when petitioning the Turks.

I.F.

Don't know if it's legit (One Million signatures??), but it has some great pictures that are worth checking out.

Chain letters and signature petitions are futile in regards to being heard by the EU, especially considering that the site doesn't ask proof of citizenship or address to verify that the petitioner is a real person.

Why not ask your congressman to write a letter to the Turkish Ambassador, or call your senator and ask for a resolution for the President to bring this up the next time he travels to Europe?

Michael Thoma,
Even though I signed the petition, you bring up a very good point!
Let's get a link going on this issue to send to Congress and the President.
Stephanos I

This is a great opportunity for all Roman Catholics to help get the Church of Constantinople get their Basilica Hagia Sophia back...since it's the 4th Crusaders that caused serious harm to the Church of Constantinople...causing them to lose to the Islam invaders into the Basilica.

Apology is one thing and restitution is another thing. BOTH is needed to accomplish true sorrow for one's sins.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

PS, Yes, let's get the links to the Congress and President up here going so we all can contact them regarding to Hagia Sophia.

Sounds good but I doubt the current Christian population in total could fill a side chapel there today. I can't see this happening though something will in my view prevent this from happening.

ICXC
NIKA

I have already signed this, but I wondered why there is no way to view signatures which have already signed?

Alice

I have an idea stirring in my head.
We should get the entire Catholic and Orthodox Church to sign petitions for restitution.
And if many people would contribute just one euro we would have a wopping amount of money for restauration and maitainence.
Stephanos I

The EU is anti-Christian there's no point in writing to them. Best thing to do is make the Catholic vote count at the nation-state level and start badgering your government representatives to raise the issue.

I am sure there are legal requirements to be followed for such a "vox populi" to be considered and binding in weighing the pros and cons as regards the accession of Turkey to the EU.

Collecting a "million signatures" seems simplistic! And a cursory look at the EU website does not show any such "authorized" activity which could be used against the current application of Turkey for membership.

Someone should come up with a more plausible idea.

Amado

I was thinking of more than hundreds of millions of signatures from Catholics and Orthodox all over the world, at least it would show public Christian opinion.
Stephanos I
PS and think of the millions of Euros that could be collected to maintain the site, that alone would be an economic incentive to Turkey to allow this to transpire.
You can allways live in hope.
And God can accomplish all if we trust in Him.

His Beatitude, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, recently has publicly voiced his opinion against the accession of Turkey to the EU.

Meanwhile, the Holy See (the Vatican) has repeatedly expressed her opinion in a diplomatically neutral way by saying that each applicant for membership to the EU must adhere to the basic principles on human rights, especially religious freedom, without singling out Turkey.

Amado

I dont think that German Cardinal...what was his name...Joe someone...was so neutral. I seem to recall he had a few words to say about Europe's Christian foundations and was not so keen to see this largely Muslim Asian state as part of Europe.

ICXC
NIKA

Dear Stephanos I you said:

"His Beatitude, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, recently has publicly voiced his opinion against the accession of Turkey to the EU."

I say:

Arch. Christodoulos has always voiced his opinion against Turkey entering the EU. The Patriarch of Constantinople, (who the Greek nation supports financially... and it costs them plenty), thinks differently.

Actually, the two main political parties in Greece take two opposing views of Turkey's accession into the EU. There are an awful lot of problems.

Zenovia