By now most folks have heard that the Hagia Sophia, the largest Byzantine Christian Church ever built, is becoming a mosque again. Built at Constantinople (once named Byzantium and now called Istanbul, Turkey) in the 6th century AD (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, this was a Christian cathedral for a thousand years.
By most accounts it is the most important Byzantine structure in history and one of the world’s true monuments. But in 1453 it became a mosque under the conquering Islamic army and remained a mosque until one of the great figures of the 20th century, Atatürk, rescued the surviving Turkish remnant of the defeated Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and established Turkey as a modern nation. He defused the competing claims over Hagia Sophia by making it into a museum, satisfying no one but ultimately preventing one or the other claiment from creating conflict and disturbing his benevolent dictatorship. Now another not so benevolent dictator (who is an elected president) has decided to choose sides and Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen for Islam.
The historic structure has suffered under its newer tenants -- the Islamic conquerors constructed minarets, whitewashed over Christian mosaics, and added structural supports. But strangely enough, there will be little comment on this takeover by the enlightened media of the West. Theirs is a world in which the enemy of my enemy is my friend and this odd friendship with Islam in their battle against the Judeo-Christian view of history and ethics has made these allies. Why this has taken place is beyond the realm of logic but it represents a pass that Islam largely receives from a media and a cultural elite which has shaped the narrative against Christianity and the West. So don't expect to hear much about this except some pro forma expressions of regret.
Anything that is seen to weaken or hinder the hegemony of the Christian West is welcome news behind the closed doors and closed minds of those who think that religion is a crutch for the weak and an opiate for the masses and Christianity is the worst of the drugs. So deep is the disdain for Christianity (and Judaism) that the culture warriors determined to rewrite history will choose to give Islam a pass while condemning the Church. That is the strange paradox of modern thought. Better to champion diversity that includes Islam at the table than to allow Christianity a voice and a presence in the public square. Perhaps at some point the liberals with such contempt for America and most of Western culture will discover that Islam is a real threat but not now.
So, dear friends, for now our voices will rise alone in protest over Islam's takeover for a second time of one of Christians most important icons. Sadly, even the voices raised can do little more than express their disappointment or regret over Turkey's act.
Below are some videos on the restoration of some of the Christian mosaics from the Dumbarton Oaks page highlighting the work of the Byzantine Institute.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Restoration of the North Tympanum Mosaics, Part 1 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Restoration of the North Tympanum Mosaics, Part 2 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Restoration of the North Tympanum Mosaics, Part 3 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Conservation Techniques for Mosaics, Part 1 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Kariye Camii, Istanbul: Restoration of the Mosaics in the Exonarthex from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Apse Mosaic of Virgin and Child from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Light Study, Narthex, and South Vestibule Mosaics from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Conservation Techniques for Mosaics, Part 2 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Conservation Techniques for Mosaics, Part 3 from Dumbarton Oaks Videos on Vimeo.
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