Patriarch Daniel speaks against conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul. Photo: basilica.ro

On July 8, 2020, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, sent a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew, in which he supports the preservation of the current status of Hagia Sophia as a museum, the website of the Romanian Orthodox Church reports.

The letter says that “The initiative of the Romanian Patriarchate takes into account inestimable value of this basilica, unanimously recognized as a symbol of Christian faith and civilization and of universal art, which determined its inclusion in the universal cultural heritage in 1985, the Romanian Patriarch expresses his solidarity with all those who defends this symbol of the universal Orthodox Church."

The document also says that "members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the entire Romanian people as believers in Romania express concrete support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in defence of the current status of Hagia Sophia Cathedral."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem hopes that Turkey will keep the current status of Hagia Sophia.

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