Hagia Sophia

Security tightened to protect historic Hagia Sophia

The 1,400-year-old Imperial Gate inside the Hagia Sophia Mosque has been put under protection after it was vandalized by unidentified assailants.

The unpleasant incident had come to light after a photo showing the fragmented door was uploaded by the Association of Art Historians (SATAD) on its social media platforms. "The door must be put under protection," SATAD said in the post.

Greek PM Mitsotakis expresses abhorrence over Hagia Sophia vandalism, in phone contact with UNESCO DG Azoulay

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday spoke with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, with the former expressing his and the government deep sadness and abhorrence with condition of the Hagia Sophia, a World Heritage Site and the greatest basilica of eastern Christendom.

Vartholomeos denounces desecration of Panagia Soumela, Greek president ‘shocked’

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has sent a letter to Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy denouncing the ministry's move to desecrate one of Eastern Orthodoxy's most sacred shrines, the monastery of Soumela in Trebizond, Turkey, by granting permission to film a television ad with frenzied young people dancing as a DJ on screen plays music.

Hagia Sophia’s new cat missing: Official

A beloved Angora cat named "Kılıç," who resided at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul since the opening of the marvel to Islamic worship last year, has gone missing, according to an official.

"Kılıç," which means "Sword" in English, was brought from the capital Ankara to befriend Gli, another feline living in the historic site for the last 16 years.

Islamist, nationalist outburst from Erdogan on Hagia Sophia

By George Gilson

When in July, 2020 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turned the Hagia Sofia Museum into to a mosque, he sparked an international outcry.

Over a year later, addressing members of his AKP party in Rize, Erdogan accused the opposition of trying to keep Hagia Sophia closed.

Pages