Kyiv should have been in the forefront of protesting against Erdogan’s decision on Sophia of Constantinople
If Ukraine really considers itself the heir of Kievan Rus, then it should have made statements against turning the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople into a mosque.
Press Secretary of the UOC Vasily Anisimov stated this in a comment to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“Kyiv is directly connected with Hagia Sophia. We received from Byzantium and Constantinople our Orthodox faith, writing, and historical identity.
Kiev resident Nestor the Chronicler in The Tale of Bygone Years quotes the words that Prince Vladimir’s ambassadors told him after attending the service in Hagia Sophia: “We don’t know whether we were in heaven or on earth.”
The Orthodox faith has sunk into the hearts of our people thanks to Hagia Sophia. Therefore, one of our first Kyiv churches also bears this name.
Converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque is blasphemy. This should not be done out of respect for Christianity. And if we consider ourselves the heirs of Kievan Rus, then, of course, our authorities should have made some kind of statement on this matter.
Perhaps this would help stop the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque - after all, other countries are making corresponding statements. Patriarch Kirill also called for preserving Hagia Sophia as a Christian temple,” Anisimov said.
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