When I first visited the city of Thessaloniki several years ago, I was astounded by the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia. It is a very beautiful cathedral from the Byzantine era. I recall thinking that this would be perfect for use as the Patriarchal Cathedral.
At present, the Greek speaking Churches are in serious disarray. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the instigator of schisms in Eastern Orthodoxy and is preoccupied with grabbing as much power and authority as possible. The Church of Greece is under the leadership of an Archbishop who lacks the leadership abilities of his two immediate predecessors Serapheim and Christodoulos.
Even worse, Archbishop Ieronymos and his synod established communion with the schismatic church in Ukraine that all Churches (including the Greek ones) considered to be without valid ordinations and consecrations. The Archbishop followed the recommendations of the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and bowed to the pressure tactics of Patriarch Bartholomew. When Patriarch Bartholomew intervened previously in the affairs of the Church of Greece both Archbishops Serapheim and Christodoulos fiercely defended the autocephaly of the Church of Greece.
There would have been no question of either of these Archbishops permitting any secular foreign power to intervene in Church affairs. Unlike Archbishop Christodoulos of blessed memory, Archbishop Ieronymos does not speak on the various issues of the day whether they be social issues, national issues, or other matters. The Church of Greece needs to regain its voice and its independence.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (under Constantinople) in America has been involved in several scandals over the last few years. The Archdiocese has done spiritual harm to its flock, and has also done harm to Greek national issues as well. The visit of Archbishop Elpidophoros to the Turkich Center is demonstrative of how the Archdiocese focuses on one issue alone- the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Otherwise, why would the Archbishop have attended a ceremony attended by the leaders of Turkey and the authorities who govern the Turkish occupied territories of Cyprus. Turkey has been challenging the territorial integrity of Greece.
The place to begin the housecleaning is at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Greek world needs to seriously discuss the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Patriarchate’s status has diminished greatly in the Eastern Orthodox world because of its expansionist policies against other Churches. It has also led the Church of Greece astray and has created division among the members of the Holy Synod in the Church of Cyprus.
The conversion of Saint Justinian’s Hagia Sophia in Constantinople into a Mosque could be an opportunity to come to terms with reality. There was a time when I considered the possibility of moving the Patriarchate from the city of Constantine with horror and revulsion. The events that have played out have necessitated a change in that stance that began when I visited Thessaloniki for the first time.
The Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki is named (just like Justinian’s Church) for Christ himself. The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God. The Turks have taken many Churches named Hagia Sophia and have made them into Mosques in recent years. These include the Churches named Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Adrianople, Nicea, and Trebizond.
In my view, this makes the Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki even more special. Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki was a Mosque for hundreds of years under the Ottoman yoke (much like Justinian’s Church). However, this is the Hagia Sophia we liberated and restored to Christian worship! This is the FREE HAGIA SOPHIA!
This is the Hagia Sophia we can freely worship in and where Christ is glorified. Might this not be the perfect home for the Ecumenical Patriarchate? There are historical precedents for moving. The Patriarchate of Antioch left that town many centuries ago and has been located in Damascus. When Constantinople was conquered by the Latins in 1204, both Emperor and Patriarch went to exile in Nicea from where both Empire and Church were governed.
There is a case for Thessaloniki to be the home of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Cathedral of Thessaloniki is a symbol of the glory of Christ and also symbolizes the freedom of Greece from the Turks. This is the free Hagia Sophia!
Saint Paul preached and taught in Thessaloniki during the first century. The city contains the relics of Saint Demetrios the Martyr and Saint Gregory Palamas in the beautiful Churches that receive pilgrims from throughout the Orthodox world. Pilgrims visiting Thessaloniki make pilgrimages to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian outside the city to visit the tomb of Holy Saint Paisios.
Thessaloniki is also close to the Holy Mountain of Athos. The Holy Mountain of Athos has problems and the Monks have become divided as a result of the policies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This along with the other problems facing Greek Orthodoxy mentioned above could be alleviated if the Ecumenical Patriarchate moved to Thessaloniki.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate itself would be officially liberated. It would not be the liberation that Greeks have dreamed about since 1453, but the Great Church would no longer be dependent on the terror of the Turks or be dependent on the foreign policy establishment of the State Department. No Greek wants to turn their back on Constantinople but the reality is that there is no future for Greek Orthodoxy in Erdogan’s Turkey.
In the event that the Ecumenical Patriarchate moved to Greece, there would be a reunion of the mother Church of Constantinople with the daughter Church of Greece. The Patriarch would have a real flock to preside over again and would not have to deal with the evil of the Turkish authorities. The Patriarch would be free to speak!
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese could be reformed with new Bishops coming from Greece and Mount Athos to renew the Archdiocese. Saints Cyril and Methodios left Thessaloniki to convert the Slavs to the Gospel. So it could be that a free Patriarchate in Thessaloniki could send Bishops and Priests to rebuild and reestablish the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese with the aim of building a future American Church as the Patriarchate previously established Churches in Russia and the Balkans.
A house cleaning is in order for the Greek Orthodox world. Let it begin by liberating itself from the Turkish yoke and settling the Ecumenical Patriarchate at Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki. This is the Hagia Sophia Greece took back from the Turks. Using it as the Patriarchal Cathedral would be sending a message to the Turks.