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Hagia Sophia Commentary

GUEST VIEWPOINTS

Aghia Sophia and Chora Monastery Must Not Be Forgotten

August 26, 2024

By Theodore Karakostas

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ΜΟΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΧΩΡΑΣ 1

Resurrection (Anastasis) Fresco – Chora Monastery (14th century). Photo: GOA

The glorious churches of Aghia Sophia and the Holy Savior at the monastery of Chora in Constantinople have been converted into mosques by the current Turkish government. While the future of these edifices of Greek Orthodoxy may seem bleak, they cannot be abandoned to their fate. Constantinople will always be the greatest of all Greek cities and the spiritual heart of Orthodoxy. As I told an official of UNESCO in Paris in 2015, Aghia Sophia is the product of the Gospel and Orthodox theology.

I have been in touch with UNESCO officials since 2013 when the Turkish government converted the former Church-Museum of Aghia Sophia located in Trebizond into a mosque. This early warning signaled that eventually THE Aghia Sophia in Constantinople would be seized by the Turkish government for the purpose of de-Christianization. Most recently, I have written to UNESCO to protest the conversion of the great Monastery of Chora by the Turkish government while simultaneously protesting the physical destruction due to negligence and vandalism occurring within Aghia Sophia. (Pieces of wood from the doors are being removed).

The Monastery of Chora is renowned worldwide for the beauty and other worldly quality of its iconography. UNESCO has been kind enough to reply to my letters over the past few years, and most recently in a letter dated August 6, UNESCO addressed my concerns. In a very positive development, I have been informed that the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO visited Aghia Sophia this past June.

While UNESCO published a report which included Aghia Sophia and the Chora Monastery in 2021, a new report is being prepared for release in July 2025. These are good developments. However, the situation regarding Aghia Sophia and the Chora Monastery remain dire and the recent changes in status might not be reversed.

Why the continued protests and letters? Because Aghia Sophia was named for Christ himself (ναός της Του Θεού Σοφίας – Church of the Divine Wisdom of God)! Because Aghia Sophia was built under the auspices of the Emperor, Saint, and theologian Justinian the Great and served as THE Patriarchal Cathedral for nine centuries. Aghia Sophia is also a national shrine as it is the site of martyrdom that occurred on 29 May 1453 during the fall of Constantinople.

Aghia Sophia and the Holy Savior Monastery in Chora are the spiritual heritage of Greek Orthodoxy, and must not be forgotten.

Theodore G. Karakostas is the author of the books ‘In the Shadow of Hagia Sophia’ and ‘With This Sign Conquer’.

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Categories
political

Almost An Assassination

Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13. This highlights the need for everyone to show greater restraint when it comes to engaging in political rhetoric. The Democrats have accused Trump of trying to establish a dictatorship. Others have said he is another Hitler.

When someone accuses an individual of being Hitler, it gives unhinged individuals ideas. Trump is not Hitler and the left must stop making that comparison. Trump is not going to establish a dictatorship.

Joe Biden for the first time appeared Presidential. His condemnation of the attempted murder of Trump is welcome and well stated. Of course, in the past he has engaged in dangerous rhetoric suggested democracy will end if Trump wins the elections.

No further comments until investigations are completed. To date, there is no reason to believe this was a conspiracy. In the meantime, both sides should avoid dehumanizing their political opponents. No one wants a return to the political violence of the 1960’s.

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books

Frustrations And Byzantium

Book Review

The New Roman Empire A History of Byzantium

By

Anthony Kaldellis

Oxford University Press.

2023

This book is an excellent history of the Empire of New Rome from Constantine to the fall of Constantinople. It is very long at over nine hundred pages but very much worth reading. It is encouraging that the field of Byzantine studies is flourishing.

The book covers much ground by going through the reigns of all of Constantinople’s Emperors with great detail regarding their military campaigns and foreign relations. A great book but as with all works on Byzantine history, one can not help but get frustrated.

The author recounts the great successes of the Macedonian dynasty. Specifically, Nikephoras Phokas, John Tsimiscez, and Basil II. Here is where the Empire turned the tables on the Muslim invaders. Militarily and politically they could do no wrong. The murder of Phokas by Tsimizces was an outrage but at least the new ruler (on behalf of the child Emperor Basil II) kept the Enpire strong militarily and was feared by external enemies.

Basil II performed miraculously and crushed all foreign invaders. The Caliph fled Syria when he heard Basil was on his way. It would have been good to have more on Basil’s role in the conversion of Russia to Christianity, but what is here is great. It is noted that the treachery that would become a pattern in the Empire was not tolerated Basil. Basil crushed elements in the Empire that attempted to start a civil war while the Empire was at war.

This was the glory of the Empire. After Basil, the decline slowly began. In 1071, the Battle of Manzikert led to the devastating loss of territory in Asia Minor. Even after Manzikert, the great Komneni dynasty emerged that recovered much of this territory. But corruption and treachery led to the rise of the Angeli dynasty one of whose members stupidly brought the Fourth Crusade to Constantinople. Things were never the same after the Fourth Crusade attacked Constantinople.

Byzantine history is a joy to read, but also frustrating. The last two centuries saw the Turks take everything until the end came in 1453. Byzantine history is heartbreaking.




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Categories
Letters

Greece And NATO

Letter to Foreign Affairs Magazine

The following letter is intended to convey a critical view of NATO in response to “What NATO means to the World” by Jens Stoltenberg. Being of Greek ancestry, I am acutely aware that NATO has double standards. A perfect example of this is NATO’s treatment of Greece and Cyprus. Greece has been on the receiving end of Turkish threats and the government in Ankara has openly claimed the Greek islands. NATO member Turkey is an aggressor state and an outright sponsor of terrorism and jihadism as can be seen by its alliances with pro Al Quada elements and its tolerance of Islamic State. 

Turkey also invaded the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, which is not a member of NATO. This makes NATO itself an aggressor and supporter of Turkish ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories of Cyprus. More recently, the Greek Prime Minister asked Secretary Stolenberg himself to condemn Turkish threats against Greece. Mr. Stoltenberg refused to so do, making him and NATO hypocrites who are ready to sacrifice Greece and Cyprus to Turkey. In addition, NATO has looked the other way as Turkey aided and abetted the genocide of Armenians from Artsakh by the fascist-jihadist regime in Azerbaijan.

The NATO alliance is not indispensable. It is in many ways a threat to small countries considered of less importance as can be seen by the struggles of Armenia, Cyprus, 
and Greece. 

Theodore Karakostas
Boston

Categories
political

First Family Of Narcissists

The ability of the media and the Democratic Party to hide President Biden’s dementia has collapsed. Democratic Party officials and liberal media are calling for Biden to end his candidacy for President at the very least. They have asked the Biden family to persuade the President to end his campaign.

Unsurprisingly, the Biden family are in effect urging the senile President to continue his campaign. To expect narcissists such as First Lady Jill Biden and sociopathic son Hunter Biden to do the right thing is naive. This family is dysfunctional and does not adhere to conventional morals and ethics.

Biden should not have run for President four years ago, as he was already too old and showing signs of dementia. That the Biden family let him run then demonstrates they are never going to be helpful or consider what is good for the country. On the one hand, one is inclined to have pity on an old man who is enduring the indignity of losing his mind in front of the entire world.

On the other hand, he ran for President four years ago while ignoring his advanced age and signs of declining health. Thirty five years in the Senate and eight years as Vice President were not enough for this career politician who wanted more and more. The Democrats would be doing the country and the world a favor if they proceed to deny him the nomination.

Whatever happens, Trump is assured of being elected President in November. The Democrats cannot win but they can do the right thing in ridding us all of the morally depraved Biden family. Hunter Biden’s corruption is notorious. Selling access to his then Vice President father to Ukrainian gas officials and spending his money on drugs and strippers while being a deadbeat dad are among his crimes.

Actor Bruce Willis suffers from a disease similar to Biden’s. His family compelled him to retire and care for him in private in order to protect his privacy. That is what loving families with members who suffer from dementia do. The Biden’s let their husband and father run for reelection as President in the midst of international upheavals and regional wars.

The Biden family must go. This classless and depraved family must be removed from the White House. The sooner the better. Jill Biden in particular will be remembered as America’s worst First Lady.

Categories
political

The Debate

The Democratic Party is panicking after the Presidential debate Thursday night. Frankly, I find it surprising that so many Democrats and so many in the media were surprised by Joe Biden’s performance. Joe Biden has been suffering from dementia for many years. He looked confused and out of it when he ran for President four years ago.

What is shocking is that it has taken this long for the media and the Democrats to acknowledge Biden’s health issues. In addition to ignoring Biden’s health issues, the media ignored corruption scandals involving Ukraine gas companies and both Biden and his son Hunter. The media wanted the anti war Trump out of office so bad they worked to diminish coverage of the Biden scandals.

Arguably even more scandalous is the attitude of First Lady Jill Biden. This woman should never have allowed her husband to run for President in 202o. That she allowed her husband to run for reelection says much about the dysfunction in the Biden family. Politics and scandals aside, Joe Biden is a sick man and it is not easy watching any person declining and in a very public way as he has.

Trump has now become the inevitable winner of the 2024 elections. Now we will have a President who seeks to end World War three. Trump and his foreign policy advisors have stated they will stop aid to Ukraine if Kiev refuses to sit down and negotiate with the Russians.

Try as they might, the Democrats and the media cannot cover up the fact that Biden is a very sick man. Any effort to remove him as the nominee will not stop Trump. The Democrats should have sought another nominee when they had the chance.

Instead, they embraced Joe Biden and by extension his scandal plagued son. The problems of the Biden’s have just blown up the Democratic Party. In this regard, democracy prevails because the media cover up of Biden’s problems is now fully in the open.

Categories
faith

The Archbishop

Prime Minister Mitsotakis has reportedly asked Patriarch Bartholomew to remove Archbishop Elpidophoros from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. This is both good and bad.

It is good because the Archbishop is a destructive force within the Greek Archdiocese and in Orthodoxy generally. His removal is undeniably good. It is bad because Mitsotakis does not appear to respect the spiritual role of the Archbishop. The Mitsotakis government has been the most aggressively anti Church government in Athens since that of Costas Simitis.

On the matter of national issues, the Greek government is in the right. The Archbishop in 2021 was present at the opening of Turkish cultural center with Turkish President Erdogan and the leader of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus Ersin Tatar. This outrageous appearance with the Turks alone justifies his removal.

Previous to becoming Archbishop, then Metropolitan Elpidophoros wrote a notorious article comparing the position of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Orthodoxy to the person of the father in the holy trinity. He also denied that the Ecumenical Patriarch is “first among equals” as all Orthodox believe. Instead, he asserted that the Ecumenical Patriarch is “first without equals”.

The Archbishop became a propagandist for Patriarch Bartholomew’s efforts to redefine the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and was a player in the Schism with Moscow. This is when the Greek government should have interceded in the affairs of the Church of Constantinople. They should have stopped Patriarch Bartholomew from interfering in Ukraine and stopped the election of Elpidophoros as Archbishop in 2019. The Archbishop gave a speech some time ago against the Russians before various officials of American intelligence agencies.

The Archbishop created chaos within the Church of Greece by baptizing the children of a gay couple. He has also received into the Patriarchate’s Slavic Vicariate a defrocked Russian priest, a move all Orthodox Churches in America protested.

He has held for three years in row, divine services at an Episcopal church that celebrates the LGBT agenda and displays the rainbow flag. The Archbishop must go, but there is still a lot of cleaning up to do. The Churches of Greece and Cyprus for example.

The US government has interceded to get the Churches of Greece and Cyprus to recognize the pseudo church in Ukraine. Athens must defend its own sovereignty and the Greek Churches by demanding Washington stop trying to influence the Greek Churches. The Churches of Constantinople and Greece should not be under American influence.

The Archbishop’s removal must be a beginning, not an end to the housecleaning in the Greek Churches.




Categories
faith

Harassing The Patriarch

Turkish officials are renewing traditional criticism of the Ecumenical Patriarchate because of the term “Ecumenical”. Patriarch Bartholomew has been slammed for attending a peace conference in Ukraine. The Turks are reverting to their traditional harassment of the Patriarchate.

This means Patriarch Bartholomew’s alliance with the US government and anti Russian policies have failed miserably. The US has done nothing to protect the Patriarchate. The Patriarchate has also alienated the Orthodox world and has become morally complicit in the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Patriarchate is in a deep hole spiritually and politically. The way out is for the Patriarch to withdraw his recognition of the fake Church in Ukraine, to restore communion with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and to condemn the persecution of the Ukrainian Church. The Patriarchate needs to be strengthened spiritually and restored as Orthodox if it wants to survive in Constantinople.

Categories
political

Armenia Recognizes Palestine

Armenia has officially recognized Palestine as a state. This is a brave move coming from an oppressed and long suffering nation that has endured genocide again in the last four years at the hands of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenia has given a slap to Israel which has unscrupulously armed and abetted Azerbaijan.

Armenia has longstanding ties with Iran. Only Iran has stood with the Armenians during their plight. Iran and its ally Hezbullah in Lebanon are therefore allies of Eastern Christianity. Eastern Christians should oppose any potential war against Iran and should stand with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The Armenian recognition of Palestine has even more crucial significance considering the attacks on the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem by extreme Israeli fanatics. The Armenians are embattled everywhere from Jerusalem to Artsakh, but they are bravely striking back and expressing support for the Palestinians who are suffering much like the Armenians.

If only Greek leaders had the ability and willingness to fight like the Armenians.

Categories
political

Greeks Destroying Old Alliances

The Lebanese and Iranian affiliated “Hezbullah” is threatening Cyprus since Nicosia may be considering giving support to Israel from its territory. This very bad news and shows that Cyprus like Greece is becoming a satellite of the west. The Mitsotakis government in Athens ruined the traditional good relations that the Greek world had with Iran when it seized an Iranian tanker.

The Mitsotakis government had also bent over backwards to aggravate the Russians. On Ukraine, Athens should have emulated the example of Hungary. Budapest has accepted Ukrainian refugees and provided humanitarian relief while adopting strict neutrality and refusing to get involved. The Mitsotakis government has repeatedly insulted Moscow in a shameless display of currying favor with the west.

Cyprus seems to be following the path of submission to interests that are outright anti Hellenic. Iran and Hezbullah were on the side of Orthodox Christianity when they fought to save the Assad regime in Syria. Iran and Hezbullah fought against the genocidal ISIS and other western funded jihadists who were slaughtering Christians, Yazidis, and Shiite Muslims.

In the recent past, it made sense for Greece and Cyprus to work with Israel against Turkey. The stupidity here is that the government of Cyprus is contemplating working with Israel not against Turkey, but Iran and Hezbullah. It should be remembered that ethnic Greek Orthodox Churches in Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai have survived because of traditional friendships between Greece and the Arab world.

Working with Israel right now is not to the interests of Greece and Cyprus for two reasons.
Israel is complicit in full scale genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza. The Hellenic world becomes morally complicit in genocide if it supports the Netanyahu government.

Orthodoxy has become less of a factor in Greek and Cypriot foreign policy. The Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and other ethnic Greek bishops have condemned the genocide in Gaza. Archbishop Alexy of Gaza (a Greek) heroically declared his willingness to die with the people of Gaza by refusing to leave.

Many Gazans are Christians. Greeks should not be indifferent to their plight. The interests of Christianity and Hellenism in the Middle East necessitate good relations with Iran and Syria. Good relations with Israel matter as well, but the policies of Netanyahu make cooperation between the Hellenic states and Israel impossible.

Will a Greek leader emerge in Greece or Cyprus that is not a western stooge?