“Do not fear, for my spirit remains among you.”
The Byzantine Chora Church in Turkye has been converted into a mosque, sparking controversy both at home and abroad. According to the International Christian Concern, Turkiye authorities converted the ancient Byzantine Chora Church in central Istanbul into a mosque after four years of renovation work. Turkiye previously renovated Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020.
Chora Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its beautiful Byzantine-style mosaics and frescoes, has long been treasured as a cultural and historical treasure. The move to repurpose the building into a mosque has drawn criticism from preservationists and religious minority groups who say it is a disregard for cultural heritage and religious tolerance.
The building, now known as Kariye Mosque, officially opened for Muslim worship on May 6. Critics see the change to the mosque as a calculated political ploy to appease Islamist parties that make up a significant voting base for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
This change in the status of Christian sites reflects a broader trend in Turkey in recent years in which some monuments with Byzantine and Greek heritage have been repurposed. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou condemned the move, describing it as an expression of “cultural instability and religious intolerance” that obscures the rich heritage of Christian art and culture.
The religious transformation of these sites illustrates the complex historical and cultural dynamics between Türkiye and its Christian past. Historically, Turkye was the centre of Greek Christianity until the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, now Istanbul, in 1453. Since then, the region has been predominantly Muslim.
In modern times, despite Türkiye’s official secular stance, political changes led by Islamist parties have led to the conversion of some historically important Christian monuments into mosques. (Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper Comprehensive)
Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ (Haggai 2:3-5)
God, please have mercy on this country where the church that worships the Lord has lost its purpose and function due to human selfishness and greed and has been converted into a mosque to serve a vain god. Please shine a light of truth on those who do not know the Lord and want to use religion for their power so that the same thing will not be repeated. At this time, let the churches in Turkiye realize that the true church with God is not limited to the building so that it will stand firmly as a glorious Jesus church where the covenant of the Lord is alive.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
