Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has criticized Türkiye for its decision to convert the Byzantine Chora church in Istanbul into a mosque, reported Greekrporter.com.
Mitsotakis publicly expressed his disapproval of the conversion just days before his scheduled official visit to Ankara, where he is set to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He characterized the conversion of the historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, as unnecessary and stated that it insults Istanbul’s rich history as a crossroads of civilizations.
During a meeting with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Mitsotakis conveyed his intention to address the matter directly with President Erdoğan during their upcoming meeting.
Erdogan remotely presided over a ceremony marking the opening of the Chora and other recently restored structures from a conference hall at his palace complex in Ankara.
Chora is one of the most magnificent embodiments of Byzantine art, renowned for its intricate mosaics and frescoes. Its interior is adorned with a wealth of depictions, including vivid scenes from the Bible and portraits portraying Jesus and the saints, all dating back to the fourteenth century. These masterpieces not only showcase the artistic prowess of the Byzantine era but also serve as invaluable cultural and historical treasures, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage of the region.
Sakellaropoulou emphasized that Turkey’s decision regarding the Chora church sends concerning signals, particularly since Chora is recognized as a world heritage monument. She stressed the importance of respecting shared values to foster positive relations with Europe.
Erdogan’s formal inauguration of the Byzantine Church as a mosque on Monday, following Greek Orthodox Easter, has drawn criticism from both Athens and the Church. Greece’s Foreign Ministry denounced the reopening of the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, known as Kariye in Turkish, as a mosque, stating that it poses a challenge to the international community by altering and disrespecting its status as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage monument belonging to humanity.
The ministry asserted that upholding the universal character of monuments and adhering to international standards for the protection of religious and cultural heritage is a clear obligation binding on all states.
Chora’s conversion history
It has been announced that Chora, after a 4-year restoration by the General Directorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will be opened for worship in May.
Chora Mosque, like the historic Hagia Sophia, which holds sacred importance for both Christians and Muslims, was controversially converted from a museum to a mosque. As for Hagia Sophia, a portion of it was reopened for visits as a museum with the new entry regulations implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on January 15. In recent days, the opening of Chora Mosque, which holds exactly the same significance, is on the agenda.
Earlier, the news agencies reported citing the official announcement, reports that the restoration works at the Chora Church are in the final phase, and work has been launched to dedicate it to Islamic religious worship by May.
Earlier in 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued an order for another ancient Orthodox Church, which had been converted into a mosque and later transformed into a famous Istanbul museum known as the Chora Museum, to revert to its status as a Mosque and serve as a mosque.
