The New Turkish Mosque
After reconverting the revered ancient church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople into a mosque — ignoring international criticism — Turkey has moved to do it again, to the Byzantine Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.
While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued the order for Hagia Sophia and the country’s highest court deferred to him, indicating he is the law there, a Presidential decree is being use for the Chora church, said Kathimerini.
The change in its status was passed in December 2019 but the decision of the State Council of Turkey had not been implemented until now, with no initial reports of any responses.
Chora, which had been turned into the Kariye Museum after WWII and was then extensively restored, is covered with some of the finest Byzantine mosaics and frescoes that likely will be covered over for Muslim prayers as were those in Aghia Sophia.
Originally built in the 4th century, the church was comprehensively rebuilt around 1077–81 and again after a partial collapse following an earthquake early in the 12th century and, like Aghia Sophia, is a world UNESCO heritage site.
