The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has announced it will petition the United Nations to pressure Turkey to respect the Great Church of Hagia Sophia. This is a welcome move and it is truly a good thing to see that the effort to protect Hagia Sophia has not dissipated. Hagia Sophia cannot be abandoned to its fate under the Erdogan government in Turkey.
The Hellenic world has united against Turkey in an unprecedented way. The Turkish aggression against Hagia Sophia is in many ways inseparable from Ankara’s aggressions against Greece and Cyprus. Whatever may come from this appeal to the United Nations it will bring attention to the UN that Hagia Sophia is historically, culturally, and spiritually a Church.
I disagree with much that is taking place at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, but I believe that the Archdiocese is on the right track regarding its activities pertaining to Hagia Sophia. Now if the Archdiocese could support religious freedom for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church that is under persecution in Ukraine, this would be good news as well and would strengthen the moral case for protecting Hagia Sophia while ending the schism that threatens the unity of Orthodoxy.