The Orthodox Times has criticized the Moscow Patriarchate by accusing the Russian Church of “attacking” the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is in fact untrue. The Russian Church has criticized the Turkish government for the most recent outrage of the Erdogan government which has converted the historic Church of the Savior at Chora.
The Russian Church stated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate was not content with being “first among equals” and created division. This is true considering the destruction and chaos that has ensued in Ukraine. The canonical Ukrainian Church is facing persecution from schismatics linked to extremist groups.
All this is true, and it is to the credit of the Russian Church that it has condemned the conversion of the Chora Church as it has the conversion of Hagia Sophia. This latest outrage on the part of the Turkish authorities is further evidence that the schism in Orthodoxy over the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s intervention in Ukraine must come to an end. The Greek world faces serious threats from Turkey, including Ankara’s territorial claims on the Greek islands and the continental shelf.
The Greek world does not need the schism and its aftereffects. The Ecumenical Patriarch needs to settle this schism by convening a Pan Orthodox Council that would rule on the Ukrainian situation. It should be remembered that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged Patriarch Bartholomew to invade the Russian Church’s territory in Ukraine.
What exactly has the State Department done to save Hagia Sophia or the Christ the Savior Church in Chora? It should be remembered that the State Department under John Foster Dulles in 1955 failed to even condemn the anti Greek pogroms in Constantinople that set the stage for the destruction of the Patriarchate’s flock. The State Department has done nothing for the theological school of Halki either.
The Greek world is suffering the loss of important shrines in Constantinople. Both Greece and Cyprus are are the targets of Turkish aggression. The Greek world needs to remain on friendly terms with America, Russia, Europe, and other parties in order to resist Turkey.
Resolving the Ukrainian Church dispute according to the ruling of a pan Orthodox synod will remove a spiritual crisis from the Greek Churches and restore their relations with the Russian Church and the other local Churches. It is time to end this Ukrainian Church crisis and for Constantinople’s “supporters” to stop with the cheap shots at the Russian Church.
3 replies on “Hagia Sophia Diaries 16”
I’m really surprised and disappointed that Bartholomew was-apparently-so easily manipulated over Ukraine. I thought he was made of sterner stuff? You have to wonder what the US State Department said to him to convince him to support the separate Church in Ukraine? I recognize he’s in a precarious situation in Turkey, but all he has really is his credibility and the power of his position-if he loses that he has nothing.
Exactly. Many Orthodox have been pointing out that all of Orthodoxy could have been united in defense of Hagia Sophia. But this crisis in Ukraine has been divisive and remains a huge problem. Patriarch Bartholomew needs to end this.
Here is a link to how Erdogan is now using Hagia Sophia as propaganda https://orthodoxtimes.com/turkeys-new-provocative-propaganda-video-with-hagia-sophia/