The building is very fragile, and I've heard it couldn't withstand another earthquake. If it becomes a mosque again, let's hope that earthquake happens (without any casualties of course).
Excerpt: "when the Turkish fleet will start to head against Greece and reach at six miles it will be destroyed."
(note: St. Cosmas Aitolos prophesied about the 'examilia' or six miles, which Elder Paisios now understands as the six nautical miles surrounding the Greek islands, which we Greeks know that Turkey is always provacatively flying over to show its intent.)
"This is the time that they will have the boiled wheat around their waists but it is not going to be from us".
(note: this expression refers to 'kolyva' or the boiled wheat which we prepare for the dead)
"This is God's will. Examilia (six miles) will be the beginning of the end. This will commence all the events leading up to getting back 'the city' (Greeks refer to Constantinople this way)"
"The city will be given to us. There will be a war between Russia and Turkey. At first the Turks will think that they have won, but this will be their destruction."
"The Russians will eventually win and the city will fall into their hands."
"Then we will get it back, the Russians will have to give it to us."
See the rest of the video for more of what he said about Turkey to other pilgrims he met.
He also predicted that with this great war, Turkish troops will have to leave occupied Northern Cyprus to fight, so in this way, Cyprus will be liberated.
Many miracles are attributed to this great saint (though not canonized yet, but referred to as saint by all the Greek people). Having reposed relatively a short time ago, (1994), many pilgrims who sought him out at his remote hut in Mt. Athos remember the words of wisdom, mysticism, love, spiritual nourishment, and sometimes also his predictions. Books abound now in English and Greek about him.
This phenomenon has been written about in major publications such as the Wall Street journal:
He also accurately predicted something no one could fathom at the time, that 'great hunger will befall Greece'. Indeed, sadly, this has come to pass and it is happening today on a scale unprecedented since the Nazi occupation.
I would rather see the Church demolished than become a mosque again. False worship in a temple dedicated to Holy Wisdom is intolerable.
Like the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., I think the loss of Constantinople in 1453 was, in hind sight, a positive step for Christians. Both events destroyed false notions of the Lord, reminding us that God Almighty resides in all His Creation.
Agreed, would rather see it demolished then returned to the worship of Mohammed.
I would rather see the Church demolished than become a mosque again. False worship in a temple dedicated to Holy Wisdom is intolerable.
Like the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., I think the loss of Constantinople in 1453 was, in hind sight, a positive step for Christians. Both events destroyed false notions of the Lord, reminding us that God Almighty resides in all His Creation.
Agreed, would rather see it demolished then returned to the worship of Mohammed.
I do not wish to see such a masterpiece of architecture and history demolished.
'Again, with days and times, the City will be ours'...(a prophetic saying passed down amongst Greeks from the time of the fall of Constantinople.
(LOL--the crazy Greek politians there better get their act together before that time!!)
That would be such an insult for Hagia Sophia to become a mosque again. The Ottoman Empire at least respected us, but the Republic of Turkey just sees the Orthodox as a nuisance. I long for the days when Constantinople is back in the hands of the faithful.
If it weren't for Turkey possessing Constantinople and the Thracian regions, they wouldn't even have any claim to the European Union or any of that.
If Greece hadn't overplayed its hand and tried to recapture all of Anatolia, then Turkey probably would not have retained Thrace, there would not have been an exchange of populations, there would be a thriving Greek Orthodox community in Turkey, and we would not be having this conversation. The Greeks have a heavy burden of responsibility for persisting with the Megali Idea.
If Greece hadn't overplayed its hand and tried to recapture all of Anatolia, then Turkey probably would not have retained Thrace, there would not have been an exchange of populations, there would be a thriving Greek Orthodox community in Turkey, and we would not be having this conversation. The Greeks have a heavy burden of responsibility for persisting with the Megali Idea.
Yeah, the Turks are such wonderful people. Ask any Armenian, or a Kurd, er, "Mountain Turk."
That would be such an insult for Hagia Sophia to become a mosque again. The Ottoman Empire at least respected us, but the Republic of Turkey just sees the Orthodox as a nuisance. I long for the days when Constantinople is back in the hands of the faithful.
If it weren't for Turkey possessing Constantinople and the Thracian regions, they wouldn't even have any claim to the European Union or any of that.
That's why Ataturk would want to insist on it: an anchor in Europe.
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