Bulgarian Bus Overturns in Turkey, 11 Injured Including 2 Bulgarians
A bus with Bulgarian registration veered off its path, resulting in 11 injuries, two of which are reported to be severe
The newspaper Yeni Safak reported that the Turkish authorities are continuing with their plans to convert another significant Byzantine monument into a mosque, intending to open it to Muslim worshippers for the Friday prayers on February 23.
The plans for converting the church, which had been used as a museum for nearly 80 years, date back to 2020 when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree that also included the transformation of the iconic Hagia Sophia church into a mosque.
While Hagia Sophia was officially reopened as a mosque in July of the same year, the plans for the Chora Church were paused to allow for restoration work to proceed. The conversion of Hagia Sophia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a powerful symbol for Orthodox Christians worldwide, sparked international discontent and further strained the tense relations between Athens and Ankara. The Chora Church, (“The Church Of The Holy Savior”), is yet another iconic monument included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, shared by “Ekathimerini”.
It was restored in the 11th century to take on the form of an inscribed cross, while the church underwent partial collapse in the 12th century, likely due to an earthquake. The current structure primarily dates back to the 14th century.
“Its mosaics and frescoes, commissioned by the Byzantine humanist and poet Theodore Metochites (14th century) form one of the most complete ensembles of late Byzantine art to survive in Istanbul,” according to UNESCO.
In the early 16th century, Sultan II. Bayezid converted the church into a mosque. In 1945, the Turkish government decided to turn the building into a museum.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Ukraine finds itself once again under fire from Russian missiles, marking a new wave of violence in the region
In a recent address to an influential American conservative forum in Budapest, former US President Donald Trump hinted at plans to renew Republican cooperation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi, has been released from custody after posting bail of nearly 2 million USD following his arrest on corruption charges
Ukraine has opted to temporarily withdraw US Abrams M1A1 tanks from frontline combat due to increasing challenges posed by Russian drones
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, has highlighted the pressing need for increased labor migration in the European Union
New York's highest court has made a pivotal decision in the legal saga surrounding former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022