Byzantine mosaics in the Church of Saint Savior in Chora. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) commented on Thursday, 23 May 2024, regarding the recent implentation of the decision by Turkish authorities to transform the Church of Saint Savior in Chora into a mosque. “This step further dilutes the historical roots of the Christian presence in the country. Any interreligious dialogue initiative promoted by Turkish authorities loses credibility”.
Four years after the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Basilica into a mosque, the highly symbolic Church of Saint Savior in Chora in Istanbul is following the same path. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally opened the Byzantine Christian Orthodox church for Islamic worship at the beginning of May 2024.
“This is a step further in diluting the historical roots of the Christian presence in the country, and it is a regrettable decision that will make religious coexistence more difficult. With this action, any initiative regarding interreligious dialogue promoted by the country’s authorities will inevitably lose credibility,” states Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of COMECE.
The 4th-century church is an emblem of Eastern Christianity and a living memory of the historical presence of Christians in the country. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage and functioned as a museum for decades.
In July 2020, COMECE commented on the change of status of the World Heritage Monument Hagia Sophia from a museum to a Muslim temple, considering it “a blow to interreligious dialogue.” On that occasion, COMECE also highlighted Turkey’s “serious problem” with hate speech and threats directed against national, ethnic, and religious minorities.