Turkish President Erdogan formally converts historic Chora Church into mosque
08 May 2024 10:22:51
Istanbul, May 8: In a significant development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially inaugurated an ancient Byzantine church, Chora Church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, sparking a protest from Greece, a neighboring country.
This move comes four years after the Turkish government declared the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, locally known as Kariye, a Muslim house of prayer. The conversion in 2020 followed a similar transformation of Istanbul's iconic Haghia Sophia into a mosque.
Similar to Haghia Sophia, which served as a church for several centuries before becoming a mosque for much longer, the Chora was in operation as a museum for several decades prior to being given the order to become a mosque. However, the Chora’s official opening as a mosque was postponed while the building underwent repairs.
Erdogan presided over a ceremony on Monday from a conference center at his Ankara palace complex, remotely celebrating the opening of the Chora and other freshly renovated buildings. "May it bring good fortune," Erdogan said during the televised event.
The church is renowned for its intricate frescoes and mosaics and is located close to Istanbul’s historic city walls. Although the current shape of the building was adopted in the 11th and 12th centuries, the structure dates back to the 4th century.
Initially built in the Byzantine era, it was converted into a mosque during Ottoman rule and later became a museum in 1945.
The decision to convert both Haghia Sophia and the Chora back into mosques is aimed to solidify Erdogan's ruling party to solidify its conservative and religious support base amidst an economic downturn.
Two churches turned into mosques by Erdogan
This move comes four years after the Turkish government declared the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, locally known as Kariye, a Muslim house of prayer. The conversion in 2020 followed a similar transformation of Istanbul's iconic Haghia Sophia into a mosque.
Both conversions drew praise from Muslim faithful but criticism from Greece and other countries who had urged Turkey to protect the important Byzantine-era monuments. Both have been included on the U.N. World Heritage List.
Similar to Haghia Sophia, which served as a church for several centuries before becoming a mosque for much longer, the Chora was in operation as a museum for several decades prior to being given the order to become a mosque. However, the Chora’s official opening as a mosque was postponed while the building underwent repairs.
Erdogan presided over a ceremony on Monday from a conference center at his Ankara palace complex, remotely celebrating the opening of the Chora and other freshly renovated buildings. "May it bring good fortune," Erdogan said during the televised event.
The church is renowned for its intricate frescoes and mosaics and is located close to Istanbul’s historic city walls. Although the current shape of the building was adopted in the 11th and 12th centuries, the structure dates back to the 4th century.
Initially built in the Byzantine era, it was converted into a mosque during Ottoman rule and later became a museum in 1945.
But why?
The decision to convert both Haghia Sophia and the Chora back into mosques is aimed to solidify Erdogan's ruling party to solidify its conservative and religious support base amidst an economic downturn.