Turkey's Erdogan: Eurovision is a Threat to Family Values
For the past 12 years, Turkey has deliberately refrained from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizing the event
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!
Russia is preparing to identify American assets for potential confiscation in retaliation for any seizure of its own assets in the United States
Moscow has issued a stern warning, stating that it will target British sites if British weapons are used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory
Russian forces launched 15 rocket attacks on Kharkiv today, resulting in at least seven dead and 16 injured
Keir Starmer is emerging as a potential future Prime Minister of Britain, presenting himself as a meticulous and professional lawyer with a focus on details rather than charisma
The UN General Assembly is set to discuss and vote on a draft resolution regarding the Srebrenica massacre
President Rumen Radev shared that during today's audience with Pope Francis, they agreed that the most pressing challenge for humanity is to halt the violent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza
Sofia Airport's Terminal 3 Construction Set to Begin in Early 2026
COVID-19 Impact: Bulgaria's Grim Milestone as Highest Death Rate in EU