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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Ask the government to allow the reopening Halki if you ever make it there. 
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,440
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Dear Dan,
Nice to see Aghia Sophia without the minarets. I had been to Istanbul and the church was quite big, but as in Saint Peters it was hard to tell. In Saint Peters they had marks showing the length of other churches such as Saint Patricks in N.Y. That way people would have an awareness of the size. (Saint Patricks by the way, was about half the size).
What I did notice was the thickness of the wall of Aghia Sophia between the inside of the church and the ramp going up. It was probably a yard wide.
I couldn't help but picture the 'ladies' (with veils covering their faces), being carried in 'litters' up the ramp. But then I'm such a romantic.
I have seen pictures of some mosaics of Christ that were uncovered recently and I was in awe. The beauty and perfection was unbelievable. Can one just imagine such a thing happening today to (let's say) Rome. What a tragedy!
In Christ,
Zenovia
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,505
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Have a beautiful wallpaper on my computer of the Pantocrator.
Stephanos I
May God hasten the day when the Divine Liturgy will again be offered in Hagia Sophia.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,855 Likes: 8
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Originally posted by Stephanos I:
May God hasten the day when the Divine Liturgy will again be offered in Hagia Sophia. AMEN.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,994 Likes: 10
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Originally posted by Rilian: Ask the government to allow the reopening Halki if you ever make it there. Dear Rilian, That has been requested and pursued in the past few years by the Ecumenical Patriarch, the U.S. government, the Vatican, the U.S. Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarch, internet petitions w/thousands of names, etc., etc.,etc..... Most unfortunately, I wouldn't hold my breath about the Turkish government allowing for its reopening.  Even their desire for membership into the E.U. hasn't changed anything. Hopefully, they will have to do this BEFORE the EU votes on their membership. Regards, Alice
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 788
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"Σώπασε κυρά Δέσποινα και μη πολυδακρύζεις
πάλι με χρόνους, με καιρούς, πάλι δικά μας θα 'ναι".
"Be calm, Beloved Lady, be calm and do not weep for them
Though years, though centuries shall pass, they shall be yours again."
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,930
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"Be calm, Beloved Lady, be calm and do not weep for them
Though years, though centuries shall pass, they shall be yours again." Oh Ed, that is so awesome! Thanks 
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 16
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There is a story that during World War I, the Western Allies offered to give Constantinople to the Russians at the end of the war. Of course, Lenin and his ilk intervened and this never happened. Imagine what would have happened if that had happened ... the city returned to the hands of the faithful, the scrawls removed from the grand churches ... Originally posted by Stephanos I:
Have a beautiful wallpaper on my computer of the Pantocrator.
Stephanos I
May God hasten the day when the Divine Liturgy will again be offered in Hagia Sophia.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38
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Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38 |
Dear Friends,
Aghia Sophia also stands as a living condemnation of the divisions between Catholics and Orthodox - divisions that Christians allowed to ensure the downfall of Byzantium and of Aghia Sophia.
Aghia Sophia was defeated by Christians before she was taken over by the Turks.
Alex
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,252
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Big thanks to you Dan for posting those beautiful pics of the Great Church. I would love to stand and prostrate on the floor of that holy place.
Paul
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 202
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having visited Turkey last November. By the way it is a great bargain and I felt perfectly safe.
Now back to the hagia Sophia. I was disappointed. One had to use their imagination to see it former grandour. It was not well maintained. They had removed the scaffling that was in the middle of the church for several years. tis a great loss to the world.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38
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Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38 |
Dear Friends,
Does anyone know anything about the miraculous, weeping pillars of the Church of Aghia Sophia?
Do they continue to weep and do miracles continue?
Alex
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