Greece and Egypt recently signed an EEZ agreement which strengthens Greece against Turkey. Turkey states that the agreement between Greece and Egypt is non existent. Greek diplomacy has come a long way under Prime Minister Mitsotakis which is standing up to Turkish aggression.
More welcome news is that the government of Egypt has condemned the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. Furthermore, the Egyptian Prime Minister visited the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai and was awarded with the Order of Saint Catherine. The Egyptian government announced that it was going to spend the equivalent of $2.5 million for the restoration of the Monastery.
A few years ago, the Monastery came under attack from Islamic State militants. Four Egyptian police officers were killed and one was injured in the line of duty in protecting Christian Monks from the Islamic State. The attitude of Egypt toward the Monastery of Saint Catherine is one that is truly enlightened and Greek Orthodox Christians everywhere should be grateful.
The Monastery itself was built under the auspices of Saint Justinian the Great of Constantinople who also presided over the construction of Hagia Sophia. Saint Catherine’s was originally named for the transfiguration of Christ but in later centuries was renamed after the relics of Saint Catherine were discovered at that site.
The Monastery is also built on the site of the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses. It is one of the holiest places in Christendom. The Monastery grounds also include a Mosque so that Muslims may also pray. Sinai is also holy to Muslims and Jews who also regard Moses as a great prophet.
The Coptic Christians of Egypt have long been persecuted in Egypt by fanatical Islamists. Hopefully, the Egyptian government’s fight against Islamic terrorists will secure the rights and the future of the Coptic Christians in Egypt.
In other news, the Turkish cleric who led prayers in Hagia Sophia died of a heart attack.
10 replies on “Hagia Sophia Diaries 13”
Up to 3,000 Turks infected with coronavirus during Hagia Sophia’s opening as a mosque
Paul Antonopoulos
The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been hit with a new drama.
Some 3,000 people are believed to have been infected with the coronavirus during the ceremony of Hagia Sophia’s conversion into a mosque on July 24, a Turkish public health expert at a leading university said on Saturday according to Ahval News.
Ahval News, who quoted the Turkish-language ANKA, quoted associate professor at Ankara’s Hacettepe University, Dr Sarp Üner, as saying.
“A simple calculation shows that there would be 1,000 patients there… If we consider the transmission rate, those patients would have infected between 2,000 to 3,000 others,’’ Üner said. “I believe that the gathering will increase the cases in Istanbul.’’
Although only 1,000 guests were permitted inside Hagia Sophia during the conversion ceremony, thousands more spilled out into the courtyard and surrounding area.
Those inside Hagia Sophia practiced social distancing and wore masks, but outside was a completely different story.
Üner warned that coronavirus cases will increase in Turkey in September, saying:
“People will return from vacation, schools will open, people will be indoors and group season is coming. A system that will distinguish between flu and coronavirus should be established. Because they give similar symptoms. It is certain that more difficult days await us.”
Üner underlines that there is an insufficient number of tests being done in Turkey.
“The number of tests must be increased and the contacts must be tested, only this way can the disease be controlled,” he said.
The high infection rate for those who attended Hagia Sophia’s conversion ceremony was revealed after the Muezzin of Hagia Sophia, the one appointed to lead and recite the Islamic call to prayer, died suddenly.
Osman Aslan who was assigned to Hagia Sophia died of a heart attack, as reported by Greek City Times.
In the statement made by the Mufti’s of Constantinople, “Our Kagithane District Uhud Mosque passed away due to a heart attack during the voluntary guidance service in Hagia Sophia Mosque. We extend our condolences to his family and relatives.”
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/09/3 … ronavirus/
Interesting. After the 1955 pogroms, there was an earthquake in Constantinople. Many Turks believed it was divine punishment for the attack on the Christians. Erdogan’s decision turned out to be stupid considering the covid 19 epidemic. This is going to be a disastrous decision on top of the economic problems. What was intended to be a triumphal gesture is turning into a disaster.
It’s not for us to try and determine God’s will and Divine retribution, but I have to believe the appalling arrogance displayed by Erdogan and his complete indifference to the feelings of 300 Million Orthodox Christians in us unconscionable act to turn Hagia Sophia into a Mosque would turn around and bite him in the fanny. For centuries Orthodox Christians worshipped in that edifice and called out to the Holy Spirit in times of crisis. It is Holy Ground. I would never turn a centuries old Mosque into a Church simply to ‘in your face’ to today’s Moslems. Erdogan has sown the wind, very soon he will reap the whirlwind. And justifiably so.
Erdogan should have seen the signs when the world erupted in criticism at his decision. At a very minimum his decision to convert Hagia Sophia has brought about a serious political backlash. On top of this coronavirus outbreak a further miscalculation. He thinks he is invincible. He has many enemies in Turkey. He may very well lose the next elections.
Ruling AKP lawmaker causes stir after announcing COVID-19 infection following aggressive testing
Aug 09 2020 06:27 Gmt+3
Last Updated On: Aug 09 2020 06:41 Gmt+3
A ruling party lawmaker has come under criticism from the country’s top medical association and social media users after announcing he was found to be infected with COVID-19 after multiple testing over a month, despite a lack of symptoms.
Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker Hacı Bayram Türkoğlu took to Twitter on Saturday to announce he was infected with the deadly coronavirus, a discovery following a total of eight tests despite being asymptomatic.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the trade union representing most of Turkey’s doctors, labelled the announcement as “scandalous’’ while calling on the Health Ministry to provide detailed information on where COVID-19 tests are being conducted in the country.
“We demand an explanation as to the logic and scientific information that would lead to testing twice in one week of a lawmaker who works in parliament,’’ Artı Gerçek news site quoted TTB Chair Sinan Adıyaman said.
“We want an explanation on whether the tests numbers that are announced every day are conducted with those with risk factors or the staff of the Presidency or Parliament,’’ he added.
The Turkish Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the country reached the highest number of daily tests on Saturday with 63,842.
Social media users also blasted the AKP deputy over aggressive testing, with many saying citizens are unable to receive a single test despite having symptoms.
“Citizens cannot even receive a test once a month, even if they are suspicious (due to symptoms). And you shamelessly shared (that you had none),’’ one Twitter user wrote.
Türkoğlu is one of tens of thousands who were in attendance at the reopening ceremony of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque last month.
A Turkish public health expert at a leading university on Saturday said some 3,000 people are believed to have been infected with the coronavirus during the reopening ceremony at Istanbul’s iconic site on July 24.
A further scandal erupting from the Hagia Sophia conversion. Unbelievable. Erdogan and his associates are acting like privileged royalty. Erdogan was able to rise to power because he was once in touch with popular opinion. He was a very popular Mayor because he got things done. He was always an extremist but he was also a populist with the ability to get things done. Like many successful revolutionaries, Erdogan and his colleagues have gotten arrogant and lazy and forgotten how they got in their present positions.
A good article on events in Turkey and Erdogan’s increasingly disastrous reign
https://diem25.org/news-from-turkey-hagia-sophia-covid-19-and-violence-against-women-2/
This sums things up about Erdogan:
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/why-turkey-needs-a-new-crisis-with-greece-in-mediterranean-638236
A very good article. Things have really changed. Israel has come around to a pro Greek position. Erdogan looks as if he is going to bring disaster down on Turkey.
Mitsotakis has thus far done a good job as Greece’s PM. He has maneuvered that nation through some delicate challenges and used his connections in the EU and NATO effectively. Tsipras would have absolutely messed things up. Papandreou-let’s not even think about what he would have done.