CNA Staff, Jul 30, 2020 / 04:11 pm (CNA).- The government of Syria plans to build a replica of Hagia Sophia, with support from Russia, as a protest against Turkey’s decision to turn the famous former Byzantine cathedral back into a mosque.
Bishop Nicola Baalbaki, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Hama, has approved the construction of a new church built as a replica of Hagia Sophia in the city of Suqaylabiyah, which has a heavily Greek Orthodox population, according to Lebanon’s Al-Modon media.
The idea for the new church originated with Nabeul Al-Abdullah, a leader of the National Defense Forces militia, which supports the Syrian government. Abdullah has donated land on which the replica will be built, according to Greek City Times. He also secured approval for the project, as well as support from Russian officials, who are now helping plan the construction of the church.
Russia has supported the Syrian government against Turkish-backed rebels in the western part of the country during the nation’s ongoing civil war.
Located in modern-day Istanbul, Hagia Sophia was built in 537 as the cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. After the Ottoman capture of Constantinople in 1453, the basilica was converted into a mosque. Under the Ottomans, architects added minarets and buttresses to preserve the building, but the mosaics showing Christian imagery were whitewashed and covered.
In 1934, under a secularist Turkish government, the mosque was turned into a museum. Some mosaics were uncovered, including depictions of Christ, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Justinian I, and Zoe Porhyrogenita. It was declared a World Heritage Site under UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in 1985.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a decree July 10 converting it into a mosque following a ruling by the Council of State, Turkey’s highest administrative court, earlier that day which declared unlawful an 80-year old government decree converting the building from a mosque into a museum.
Religious leaders around the world, including Pope Francis, decried the move, with the pope saying it caused him “great sadness.”
As a mosque, the Christian mosaics in Hagia Sophia will have to be covered during prayers, as will as the seraph figures located in the dome.
Catholic bishops across the United States joined their Greek Orthodox counterparts in observing a “Day of Mourning” on July 24.
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Local Christians pray the rosary during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. / Credit: Marinella Bandini
Jerusalem, Oct 16, 2023 / 14:13 pm (CNA).
This past weekend, Franciscan friars in Jerusalem gathered together with the faithful for two prayer services dedicated especially to peace, marking one week since war erupted between Israel and Hamas.
A moment of silence at the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The first took place on Friday, Oct. 13 — the Via Crucis. This is a tradition that Franciscans have carried on for centuries, walking through the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa every Friday: from the Sanctuary of the Flagellation (where Jesus’ condemnation to death and flagellation is remembered) to the Holy Sepulchre, which encompasses the sites of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
This tradition continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this time the Via Crucis was held inside St. Saviour’s Church for security reasons. This was a rare occurrence and has only happened before during crises of public order.
A Franciscan friar who carried the cross during the Way of the Cross held in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem on Friday, Oct. 13. The cross bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge that was soaked in vinegar, the crown of thorns, and the spear. Credit: Marinella Bandini
A small procession — formed by the custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars — walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station. The cross at the front of the procession bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge, which was soaked in vinegar and brought to Jesus’ lips when he said “I thirst”; the crown of thorns with which Roman soldiers crowned him as king to mock him; and the spear that a Roman centurion used to pierce his side to ensure his death.
Praying the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Inside the church, the community of the friars of St. Saviour along with some nuns and a few faithful joined in prayer. Before the final blessing, a moment of silence was observed — as before the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulcher’s edicule — to invoke the gift of peace.
A small procession, formed by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars, walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station of the Way of the Cross. Here, they stop before the 8th station. Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Then on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Church of St. Saviour a special time of prayer took place with the recitation of the rosary for peace at the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
The Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, standing before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, during the “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
In addition to the friars and religious men and women, there was significant participation from the local Christian community.
The five mysteries meditated upon were chosen based on an observation by Pope John Paul II in his 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.
The parish priest of St. Saviour’s Latin parish in Jerusalem and the assistant priest pray the rosary at a prayer service organized by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
“The rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace,” the late pope wrote. He explicitly mentioned five rosary mysteries: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (joyful mysteries), the proclamation of the kingdom of God (mysteries of light), the death of Jesus on the cross (sorrowful mysteries), the glory of the risen Christ, and the crowning of Mary as Queen of Peace (glorious mysteries).
After the singing of the Salve Regina and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prayer for Peace by St. John Paul II was recited: “Look with special attention upon the land in which you gave birth to Jesus, a land that you loved together with him, and that is still so sorely tried today. Pray for us, mother of hope!”
The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land promoted a special “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem, on Saturday, Oct.14. The prayer was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The prayer service concluded with the final blessing and the song “Sub Tuum Praesidium.”
This Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace. This will be a time of Eucharistic adoration presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and will be held in the church of the Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem’s co-cathedral.
A Franciscan friar prays the rosary during a prayer service promoted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem.
In the sanctuaries of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem) and the Nativity (Bethlehem), celebrations will also be held according to the Status Quo with a specific intention for peace. (The Status Quo is an understanding among religious communities regarding the holy sites.)
In the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed throughout the day and a special program of prayer for peace will take place, including Masses, Eucharistic adoration, the recitation of the rosary, and the divine mercy chaplet.
Local Christians pray the rosary, during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. Credit: Marinella Bandini
During the Angelus prayer on Oct. 15, Pope Francis invited all believers to join the day of prayer and fasting for peace, stating: “Prayer is the meek and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism, and war. I invite all believers to join with the Church in the Holy Land and to dedicate next Tuesday, 17 October, to prayer and fasting.”
Mosul, Iraq, Dec 9, 2019 / 03:10 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has appealed for financial and spiritual aid for Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. The Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, made the plea in a letter on Friday, December 6.
“Today, after two years of its liberation from ISIS, the Nineveh Plain area still needs the help of our brothers and sisters who can pray and give us a hand,” said Cardinal Sako.
In the letter, addressed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social institutions, churches, and governments, Sako said that the Christians in the region “need your help so that all the people of the Nineveh Plain (can) remain in their homes, and those who have been displaced outside the region can return to it.”
The Nineveh Plain is region in northern Iraq.
Although ISIS was defeated, the need for assistance of all forms is still great, wrote Sako. Particularly, there is a “vital need” for healthcare services of all kind, he said.
“I strongly urge all actors to work specifically to restore life to the Nineveh Plain, for instance. By encouraging projects in agriculture, livestock, trade, etc.,” he said, suggesting that some more cooperation among bishops in the area could help achieve these goals.
The cardinal also asked Christians to “pray for Iraq, and in particular for the people of the Nineveh Plain,” as a special Advent devotion.
Edward Clancy, director of outreach for Aid to the Church in Need, said that the biggest problem facing people living in the Nineveh Plains is a lack of infrastructure.
“They don’t have have regular resources, as they should, because of the many years of war and now, sporadic help from the government as far as roads, security, things like that,” Clancy told CNA in a phone interview.
Clancy added that Americans should work to become aware of the problems facing Christians in the Middle East. Without awareness, the entire Christian community there is facing extinction.
“Awareness is a very big portion of it,” said Clancy. “Another thing is that people in the Christian world, the Christian community, tend not to self-promote. You don’t hear a lot of, you know, ‘this is happening to Christians.’ There seems to be a lot more interest in helping others, which is a great thing, but at the same time we have to understand that there’s Christians in great need in the Middle East.”
On the local level, Clancy said that parishes should work to provide “some sort of aid” to their brethren in the Middle East, either financial or spiritual. Without this aid, Christians will continue to flee their homelands or be at risk of terrorism.
“We have to, as a Church, get the message out better, understand better that there are Christians there and then do something about it,” he said.
“We should be shocked by the fact that over 90% of the Christians of Iraq have left, perhaps for good,” said Clancy. “And that means that it’s going to take a concerted effort of the global Church to help Christianity remain in places like Iraq and the Middle East.”
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