Photo Wikipedia Gaspare Fossati :An illustration of the nave of the Hagia Sophia from the period when it was in use as a mosque.

By George Dimitrakopoulos

“….. the most perfect and beautiful church which has yet been erected by any Christian people….” James Fergusson  in “ A  History of Architecture in All Countries”.

The recent  decision of the Turkish Authorities to permit the reading  of the Koran during the Ramadan period in the Church of Haghia Sophia coupled with the daily call for prayer by the Moslem priest, caused  the immediate reaction of the Greek  Ministry of Foreign Affairs which protested to the Turkish Authorities and informed the International Community about this new “effort” to convert the Church to a Mosque thus altering it’s historically recognized nature  and violating all regulations concerning   the World Heritage Sites scheme which has been created by UNESCO after the Second World War and which includes the Church of Haghia Sophia ( Turkey had ratified the World Heritage Convention in 1983. In 1985 the historic district of Istanbul including Haghia Sophia was added to the list of World Heritage Sites). In addition , this decision which when put into effect was projected through the Turkish Television all over the World violates a decision adopted by Kemal Ataturk in  1935 according to which Haghia Sophia was turned into a Museum and worship of any kind was no longer permitted in it’s premises.

The manner in which Turkish President Erdogan chose to handle the latest developments in Turkey which  made the well known conflict between the “ two Worlds” ( The Secular state v. The Islamic) surface again, have, as it is natural, raised  concerns regarding these “new” approaches and their consequences in future Turkish public and, to a certain extent, private life . A logical reaction, since  Mr. Erdogan’s  statements , decisions and actions  following the failure of the attempted coup , can be considered as indicative evidence that he will now proceed ,not in a  very democratic manner, in what he tried to accomplish through an intended reform of the Constitution ( that effort was not successful), namely  the transformation of the,to this date , secular Turkish Society into an Islamic one. Such a development will certainly affect many aspects of public and private life  among  which democratic principles, civil rights and freedoms are of particular importance.  As a result religious freedoms and respect  for  other religious beliefs  existing, though at reduced levels,  in Turkey may be found in jeopardy, given the fact that as it has been observed in other cases , authorities of existing Islamic states show little ,if any ,tolerance to believers of other faiths. Similarly, the same concerns exist  regarding  the future of historical monuments of any kind, since there has been enough evidence widely shown, concerning  destruction of monuments by Islamic fundamentalists in  Afganistan,  Irak  and Syria.

In this sense the future of Haghia Sophia , is certainly a very important issue to follow. It  is certainly  not limited to the bilateral context of Greek-Turkish relations but concerns all the Christian communities worldwide. Of course international interest and concern for the Church of Haghia Sophia will not be a  new  development .  It  exists  ever since the city of Constantinople,  then  capital of the Byzantine Empire fell in the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1453 and the Church of the “  Holy Wisdom” became the Mosque of  Hagia Sophia and thus the main place of worship of the Sultan. Many important  books and articles on the history of the Church , it’s architectural style and it’s importance for the Christendom have been written over the years. Many were also the expeditions aiming at visiting  the Church and evaluating  it’s  condition  with a view to ensure it’s preservation. Yet, of all  these interesting and thorough accounts one is of particular importance. It is the account by professor of International Relations and History, Erik Goldstein, published as a chapter under the title: “ Redeeming Holy Wisdom: Britain and St. Sophia ” in a book edited by Dr. Melanie Hall of Boston University,  in  2011  entitled : “Towards World Heritage, International Origins of the Preservation Movement 1870-1930”.

A brilliant Historian and a very thorough and meticulous researcher, Professor Goldstein, educated in both the United States( Tufts University and Fletcher School of Law) and the U.K ( University of Cambridge),  currently professor  of International Relations at Boston University and former Dean of the same department, has, over the years,  written extensively on various events and developments of decisive importance in the history of the international system.  This chapter, is a further proof of his respect for historical events and monuments that most of the times go along,  as well as his  ability and skill to combine evidence and knowledge offered by more than one fields in presenting and proving his thesis which in this case is : “Redeeming Holy Wisdom: Britain and St. Sophia ”.

Indeed the chapter is remarkable in all aspects. The first point supporting this assertion refers to the chronological period  Prof. Goldstein has  chosen (mainly 1820-1920 although there are enough references to former and subsequent important dates). He begins the chapter with a reference to the time the Church was built, to the time Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks and the then transformation of the Church to the Mosque of Hagia Sophia and proceeds in referring to subsequent dates that constitute turning points in the interest for the preservation of Haghia Sophia as he, in many occasions  refers to the Church  through the chapter. One of the many interesting references here is a citation of  a poem written by Lord Byron who used an image of St. Sophia to win support for the Christians oppressed by the Turks. A second one is the  reference to the work of the  Fossati  brothers, Swiss architects who in 1846 were asked by Sultan  Abdulmecid  to undertake a full restoration of the building.  After describing the history of this effort , Prof. Goldstein notes that: “…..In 1852 the Fossatis published a portfolio of twenty five  coloured  lithographs of St. Sophia. As a result of this publication this largely forgotten building re-emerged into a wider-and a Christian –consciousness…..”

The second point concerns the approach applied.  Professor Goldstein  uses  the preservation movement and it’s particular interest in the preservation of Haghia Sophia  as the basis on which he builds to present and analyze  the interest shown on the part of  British Officials, architects and writers on the issue. Among the many interesting references  here  are the ones about  the visit of British naval officer Adolfous Slade who visited Constantinople and St. Sophia in 1829 ,  the visit of British women travelers like Julia Pardoe who visited the city and the church in 1835 and G.L. Dawson Damer  who did so sometime later and the visit of Marquis of Salisbury, Secretary of State for India who visited Constantinople ,sent by the British Government  to help,  as Prof. Goldstein notes, forestall a possible Russian attempt to seize the city.

*George Dimitrakopoulos is an International  Relations  analyst.  A descendant of the oldest publishing  family in the greek regional press. He had served as an advisor to the Prime Minister ( 1983-1986)and then to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1986-1989).He had been the director of  the newspaper Elefteria of Larissa (1990-1994).He was elected as a member and Vice President of the European Parliament ( 1994-2009),and has worked as editorial advisor and columnist of the newspaper Elefterotypia.