Turkey Set to Turn Iconic Chora Byzantine Church Into Mosque

[Pelican Press 0]

Turkey Set to Turn Iconic Chora Byzantine ******* Into Mosque

Chora is one of the most splendid examples of Byzantine art with preserved mosaics and frescoes. Public Domain

After Hagia Sophia, Turkey is about to turn the iconic Chora ******* in Istanbul into a mosque on Monday, according to the official Anadolu Agency.

The Chora *******, Kariye in Turkish, functioned as a museum for seventy-nine years.

Chora is one of the most splendid examples of Byzantine art and still preserves mosaics and frescoes. The interior is covered with ****** scenes and portraits of ****** and the saints dating back to the fourteenth century.

Mosaic of the journey to Bethlehem. Public Domain

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had decided to convert the ******* into a mosque in 2020 along with the conversion of Hagia Sophia.

Although plans were in place for its opening in October 2020, the decision to proceed with repair work was abruptly halted. It was stated that the “preparations for its conversion to a mosque have not been completed,” and the reversal was another surprising turn in the fortunes of the Byzantine landmark, which was one of the first ********** sites to be looted and pillaged following the Ottoman invasion in 1453.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou called Erdogan’s decision to convert the ******* to a mosque “an act of symbolic ********* dictated by political arrogance.” The President said that it is an act of “cultural insecurity and religious intolerance, which condemns a treasure trove of ********** art and cultural nobility to obscurity.”

Mosaic of the Koimesis in the *******. Public Domain

Chora *******, a site of immense importance to Greek Orthodox history

Along with the World Heritage Site of Hagia Sophia, the Chora Monastery is another site of immense importance to Greek Orthodox history and to the long and illustrious history of the Greek people in Asia Minor.

The restoration work has now been completed, Yeni Safak reports and specially designed carpets were ***** to open prayers.

The mosaics and frescoes of the historic ******* have been preserved during the restoration, it was added.

The Monastery of Chora is located on the northwest side of the historical center of Constantinople and a short distance from the Byzantine gate of Adrianople.

It was founded in the 6th century from the old monastic complex. In the 12th century, the Temple was built, while at the beginning of the 14th century, it received a ******** renovation.

Public Domain

Some of the best examples of the mosaics of Byzantine art are preserved to this day at Chora. It is a famous mid-Byzantine temple of Vasilevoussa in terms of architecture, and its elaborate decoration was crafted by Byzantine emperors. After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it became an Orthodox ******* and was later converted into a mosque.

Following the end of World War II, the building was repaired, and since then, it has functioned as a museum.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Turkey #Set #Turn #Iconic #Chora #Byzantine #******* #Mosque

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up