Primate of UOC speaks about his attitude to altered Hagia Sophia’s status
Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, said that he has a negative attitude to the conversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
“This is a Christian church, and it should belong to those who built it,” said the Primate of the UOC, answering a question from journalists of the Pavlovsky News project. "But Turkey is a different state, it has different laws, different rules."
He added that the Church is praying for the return of Hagia Sophia.
“We do not seize mosques and expect no one to seize our temples either," His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry summed up.
As a reminder, on July 10, 2020, the Turkish State Council cancelled the government decree granting the status of a museum to Hagia Sophia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the resumption of Muslim worship in Hagia Sophia and on July 24, the first Friday prayer in 86 years was held in the Cathedral.
Read also
Abp. Alexei: How to Pray as a Family
"If a family prays together," His Eminence said, "the household becomes a little tower in that vineyard."
Pat. Bartholomew Honors U.S. Traditions, Greek Heritage in Washington Visit
Bartholomew lays wreath at Arlington, meets with U.S. leaders, and blesses faithful in Virginia.
Police Return Relics of St. Raphael to St. Vladimir's Seminary
Yonkers officers, K9 unit honored with blessing and thanksgiving at the seminary.
Conference to Celebrate 100 Years of ROCOR in Germany
The event will take place from May 6-8, 2026 at the historic Blutenburg Castle near St. Job of Pochaev Monastery near Munich.
Patriarch of Alexandria Baptizes 100 in Madagascar
During his homily, Theodore II called baptism “the new birth of man."
Patriarch of Jerusalem Meets with President of Turkey
Theophilos III met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Constantinople. The following day, back in Jerusalem, Theophilos granted an audience to (among others) Abp. Nathanael of the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem.