Orthodoxy is going to live another painful moment. A Muslim prayer will be heard again after many years.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided a few days ago to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
There were strong reactions, from all over the western, civilized world, with the Greek government leading the initiatives.
The attitude of Russia, a large Orthodox country, which went as far as to say that the Russians will benefit from the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, because they will not have to pay a ticket when they visit it, gave rise to concern.
The Church, however, resists. At the urging of the Archbishop of America, the Archbishop of Athens and other hierarchs, July 24 is declared a day of mourning.
In the US, church bells will toll in lamentation, flags will be flown at half-mast, and the Akathist Hymn will be chanted in the temples.
In Greece, as a whole, the Metropolises announce that they will hold vigils and prayers, while the Akathist Hymn will be heard in all the temples.
The Akathist Hymn will be chanted in Australia as well. And the Church of Ukraine is participating in the movement “in a sign of prayerful solidarity with the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
All eyes will be on Constantinople. As Christians, we entrust the future of our beloved Ἁγία Σοφία to His Wisdom.
