Archons Mark Hagia Sophia Anniversary With Call for Religious Freedom

NEW YORK — The National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has issued a statement marking the sixth anniversary of Hagia Sophia's reconversion from a museum into an active mosque, criticizing recent commemorations by the Turkish government and renewing calls for greater protections for religious freedom and Christian heritage.

In the statement, National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis said a July 24 anniversary program organized by Turkey's Directorate of Communications portrayed Hagia Sophia primarily as a symbol of the 1453 conquest of Constantinople while minimizing its nearly 1,000-year history as the cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He argued that the building's Christian heritage should remain central to any historical account and questioned the government's reliance on Sultan Mehmed II's endowment deed to justify the site's current status.

The statement also pointed to broader concerns regarding religious freedom in Turkey, citing the continued closure of the Halki Theological School since 1971, restrictions affecting the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and longstanding disputes involving church governance and property. Limberakis urged U.S. officials, members of Congress, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to continue encouraging Turkey to reopen Halki, recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate's ecclesiastical status, remove restrictions on the election of its leadership, and resolve outstanding property issues.

While affirming respect for Turkey's sovereignty, the Archons said their advocacy seeks to preserve Hagia Sophia's full historical legacy and defend the religious freedom and institutional integrity of the Ecumenical Patriarchate through diplomatic and lawful means.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Russian tourists were detained after reading the Bible inside Hagia Sophia.