Swiss scholars want famous church returned before Turkey joins EU

[WanderAimlessly]

Swiss scholars want famous church returned before Turkey joins EU
Jonathan Luxmoore
9/9/2005

OXFORD, England (CNS) – Swiss scholars have petitioned the European Parliament to ask that Istanbul’s sixth-century Church of Hagia Sophia, now a museum, be restored for Christian worship before Turkey joins the European Union.

“This is not a public building that changed ownership with the conquest of a war – Hagia Sophia is a place of God, Christendom’s grandest place of worship for over 900 years, and arguably the most perfect and beautiful church erected by any Christian people,” the group said in statement on a Hagia Sophia blog, or Web log.

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[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Yes, it should be turned over to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

 

[Benedictus]

It’d be quite a miracle if the church were returned to the Patriarch of Constantinople. It’d sure make my day.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

What church serves now as the Ecumenical Patriarch’s seat?

 

[stanley123]

Swiss scholars want famous church returned before Turkey joins EU

This seems only fair. Give the Church back to the Greek Orthodox Church as a condition for membership in the EU.
One somewhat unpleasant thing though might occur, however, and that is that people may recall what happened during the Fourth Crusade. That might lead to a request that items taken during the Fourth Crusade and placed in RC Churches be restored to the Greek Orthodox Church.
Anyway, still, I am in favor of restoring this Church to the Greek Orthodox. It is terrible to have it as a museum.

 

[Franze]

I am agree with that petition

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I am curious what standing the Swiss have in this, being neither Orthodox nor of the EU? While it is a good idea, does anyone have reason to listen to them?