Turkish authorities say Erdogan freed Hagia Sophia from shackles

Hagia Sophia. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

Fahrettin Altun, the head of the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate, stated that three years ago, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, by converting Hagia Sophia into a Muslim mosque, liberated it.

Altun mentioned the prophecy of Turkish symbolist poet Nedim Fazıl Kısakürek about the opening of Hagia Sophia.

"Our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was blessed to fulfill the dream of this Teacher and liberate the Hagia Sophia from its shackles. Praise be to Allah," he wrote on Twitter.

On July 24, 2020, Turkey celebrated the anniversary when the Orthodox Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. Imam Bunyamin Topchuoglu stated that Hagia Sophia became a "symbol of Islam's victory" and also "symbolizes the unity" of the Turkish people.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier in the presidential election campaign, the President of Turkey recorded a video in which he portrayed himself as the rightful person who turned the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Read also

US helps restore Orthodox church in Turkey after earthquake

Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines

Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.

Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center

The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."

OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media

OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.

Kamianske Eparchy commemorates New Martyr Ioann Mohylevsky