СВЕТА СОФИЈА - HAGIA SOPHIA (oteta hrišćanska svetinja)

[Zawisza]

Kako kažu moji Poljaci parlament turski će ponovo da pretvori Aja Sofiju u džamiju.

Ceo tekst na Poljskom:

Konkwista islamska w Europie nasila się nie tylko liczebnością napływowych jej mieszkańców, ale i decyzjami politycznym rządów. Turecki parlament w najbliższych dniach weźmie pod dyskusję życzenie jednego (!!!) tureckiego obywatela, aby Bazylika Hagia Sofia z Konstantynopola, od VI w. stolica i symbol chrześcijaństwa na Wschodzie, po islamskiej i otomańskiej inwazji zamieniona na meczet, a do 1935 roku będąca muzeum - PONOWNIE STAŁA SIĘ MECZETEM. Ma to być już trzecia świątynia chrześcijańska na terenie obecnej Turcji, nosząca tytuł Świętej Sofii-Mądrości Bożej (a myślę, że tytuł kościołów nie jest tu przypadkowy), która aktualnie ma stać się miejscem muzułmańskiego kultu. A przecież nie chodzi o to, że tureckim muzułmanom po 500 latach dominacji w terenie nagle zabrakło miejsc do modlitewnych spotkań. Jest to ewidentna manifestacja politycznej wojny o kształt kultury w Europie.

http://www.orthodoxie.com/actualites/le-parlement-turc-examine-une-demande-visant-a-reconvertir-la-basilique-sainte-sophie-de-constantinople-en-mosquee/

 

[Miriam R. ميريام]

Pa treba tekst prevesti, jer većina ovdje ne razumije poljski. Kakva svrha od teksta kad ne razumijemo.

Pa toja cijelo vrijeme govorim, pa kad ti islamisti dođu na vlast pod krinkom demokracije, sve unište i pretvaraju u džamije, tako će biti i sa crkvama, ne samo muzejima, samo pratite.

[Поинтер]

Kao sto rekoh, postajemo robovi neke lazne demokratije a od svega toga najvise dobijaju ovi sto ne postuju nikakve zakone, a sto je jos gore niko im ne moze nista...

Ovo je verska tolerancija sa stanovista predstavnika muslimanskih zemalja - Mi cemo pretvoriti hriscanske verske objekte u dzamije, zenicemo hriscanke, proterivati hriscane sa nasih teritorija i naterati ih da prime Islam u suprotnom zna se sta sledi, a ako vi pokusate nesto tako, reagovace dzihadisti.

[Zayron]

Ovdje slično o tom piše ali ne konkretno o Hagia Sofiji već o turskoj politici uopšteno: 

Bude jednou z brněnského Petrova mešita?

Hoće li biti jednom od brnjenske katedrale Petrov (ili svetog Vita u Pragu) džamija? 

http://lukaslhotan.blog.idnes.cz/c/228210/Bude-jednou-z-brnenskeho-Petrova-mesita.html

Ustvari jeste i o tim pkanovima promjeniti Hagiu Sofiju u džamiju:

Jak asi vypadá náboženská tolerance podle tureckého premiéra Erdogana? Jednoduše. Jednu z křesťanských památek, místo kde se konal druhý niceský koncil, změní „demokratická“ turecká vláda (opět) na mešitu. Je to varování neboť jednou se může něco podobného stát i s katedrálou svatého Víta nebo brněnským Petrovem.

Kako izgleda otprilike vjerska tolerancija prema turskom premijeru Erdoganu? Jednostavno. Jednu od hrišćanskih spomenika arhitekture, mjesto gdje je održan drigi nikejski Sabor, "demokratska" turska vlada će promjeniti (opet) u džamiju. Ovo je upozorenje jer se jednom to može desiti i s katedralom svetog Vita ili brnjenskim Petrovom - katedrala u Brnu. - Već sam jednom to preveo pa mi se3 zasekl internet i morao sam to opet ponovo.

http://lukaslhotan.blog.idnes.cz/c/228210/Bude-jednou-z-brnenskeho-Petrova-mesita.html

[Srdjan]

On 2/3/2013 at 15:51, Zawisza рече

Ceo tekst na Poljskom:

Konkwista islamska w Europie nasila się nie tylko liczebnością napływowych jej mieszkańców, ale i decyzjami politycznym rządów. Turecki parlament w najbliższych dniach weźmie pod dyskusję życzenie jednego (!!!) tureckiego obywatela, aby Bazylika Hagia Sofia z Konstantynopola, od VI w. stolica i symbol chrześcijaństwa na Wschodzie, po islamskiej i otomańskiej inwazji zamieniona na meczet, a do 1935 roku będąca muzeum - PONOWNIE STAŁA SIĘ MECZETEM. Ma to być już trzecia świątynia chrześcijańska na terenie obecnej Turcji, nosząca tytuł Świętej Sofii-Mądrości Bożej (a myślę, że tytuł kościołów nie jest tu przypadkowy), która aktualnie ma stać się miejscem muzułmańskiego kultu. A przecież nie chodzi o to, że tureckim muzułmanom po 500 latach dominacji w terenie nagle zabrakło miejsc do modlitewnych spotkań. Jest to ewidentna manifestacja politycznej wojny o kształt kultury w Europie.

Исламска освајања у Европи, а не само да повећава величину свог имигрантског становништва, али и политичке одлуке владе. Турски парламент у наредним данима размотриће захтев једне (!) Турског држављанина, на базилици Свете Софије у Цариграду, престоници шестог века и симбол хришћанства на Истоку, исламска и Отоманска најезда претворена у џамију, а до 1935 који је музеј - поново постала џамија. Ово мора да буде трећа хришћанска храм у оно што је данас Турска, имајући титулу Свете Софије-мудрости Бога (а ја мислим да је наслов цркава овде није случајно), која тренутно је постао место муслиманског богослужења. Али поента није да турски муслимани након 500 година доминације на терену изненада понестало места за молитву састанака. Постоји очигледна манифестација политичког рата над обликом културе у Европи.

 

(Prevod Google-prevodioca)

[Ламех]

Сасвим је очигледан циљ и намера Ердогана и његове владе да намећу Турски империјализам на територијама на којима су владали, негде и око 500 година. И наравно да се испод њега крије милитантни ислам. Погледајте само онај њихов треш од филма "1453" или ове турске серије које они плански сервирају на подручја којима су некада владали.

А да не говоримо о томе да се натурају као медијатори у решавању конфликта међу муслиманима код нас или, иако немам доказе али знам да сам у праву, што им је главни портпарол Зукорлић.

[Zayron]

Patriarchate against Hagia Sophia opening

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News                 Vercihan Ziflioğlu             [email protected]

A Fener Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate spokesman announced that they do not favor the iidea of Hagia Sophia in Trabzon opening for prayers. Hürriyet photo

The Fener Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate supports the continued use of the historical Hagia Sophia in Trabzon as a museum, not as a mosque.
“As is known, Trabzon is not urgently in need of a mosque, and it is also known that there is noOrthodox community there. The best way is to keep the church as a museum,” Dositheos Anagnostopulos, the Patriarchate’s press officer told the Hürriyet Daily News in a phone interview yesterday.
The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate holds annual ceremonies in the Sümela Monastery in Trabzon province with a special permit issued by the Ministry of Culture.
Asked whether the Patriarchate would demand to hold ceremonies in Hagia Sophia as well, Anagnostopulos said that if the ministry permitted it and the Orthodox community desired it, this would be their duty, not only a desire.
The Foundations Directorate had announced Feb. 4 that the Hagia Sophia in Trabzonwould soon be opened up for prayers. 
Foundations Directorate Head Adnan Ertem said five of the seven Hagia Sophias nationwide were currently functioning as mosques, but two were still inactive, adding that the culture minister was the “occupying force” in the decision to reopen Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia. 
“We have won the court case regarding the situation,” Ertem said. “We are planning to open the place for prayers again after the necessary processes are completed.” 
The Hagia Sophia Museum was first dedicated as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica in 360 A.D. Until the year of 1453 it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople. Following the city’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire, the building was converted into a mosque in 1453 and remained so until 1931, when it was closed to the public for four years. It was reopened by the republican authorities in 1935 as a museum. 

February/07/2013

Source. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/patriarchate-against-hagia-sophia-opening.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40643&NewsCatID=393

[Ромејац]

Turkish Deputy PM expresses ‘hope’ to see Hagia Sophia as mosque

“We are looking at a sad Hagia Sophia, but hopefully we will see it smiling again soon,” Deputy PM Arınç has said at a ceremony

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has expressed his hope to see Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Museum be used as a mosque, while already calling it the “Hagia Sophia Mosque” while speaking to reporters. 

We currently stand next to the Hagia Sophia Mosque … we are looking at a sad Hagia Sophia, but hopefully we will see it smiling again soon,” Arınç said in a speech during the opening ceremony of a new Carpet Museum, located adjacent to the ancient Hagia Sophia complex.
He cited two other complexes with the same name in Turkey that have recently been converted into mosques. 
“We have recently reopened two mosques with the same name to worship, one in İznik and the other in Trabzon. These were already mosques, but they were being used for different purposes,” Arınç said. 
“There were no legal objections about İznik’s Hagia Sophia, but there was one about Trabzon’s. Fortunately, we now have [real] judges in Turkey, which is a state of law, and Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia has been legally registered as a mosque,” the deputy prime minister said. 
“I won’t say that I wish same for Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia because you will misunderstand me. But these are what I feel when I talk about it,” he added.
Arınç also referred to an article of real estate law, which states that “Worship places cannot be used for purposes other than their aims.”
“Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia Mosque remained a mosque for centuries, but it turned into a museum after someone made a decision,” he added, particularly criticizing the “selling of tickets” to enter these buildings.
The status of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, with a number of campaigns to open it for Muslim prayers being initiated, despite suggestions that this would be disrespectful to the building’s past as a church.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-deputy-pm-expresses-hope-to-see-hagia-sophia-as-mosque.aspx?pageID=238&nID=57998&NewsCatID=338

[Ромејац]

Parliament to discuss return to prayers at Hagia Sophia

A parliamentary commission is considering an application by citizens to turn the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque.

Three citizens living in the northwestern province of Kocaeli appealed to the commission with a request to change the status of Hagia Sophia. A survey conducted with 401 people was attached to the application, in which more than 97 percent of interviewees requested the transformation of the ancient building into a mosque and afterwards for it to be reopened for Muslim worship. 
The application has been taken under consideration by the Parliament’s Petition Commission, Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday, adding that the commission would be asking for the opinions of the related institutions on the issue. 
As well as the application received from the Kocaeli citizens, the commission received 15 separate petitions within five days in the form of electronic mails, all asking for “opening of the Hagia Sophia to worship.”

The Hagia Sophia Museum was first dedicated as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica in 360. Until the year of 1453 it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople. Following the city’s conquest by the Ottoman Empire, the building turned into a mosque in 1453 and remained so until 1931, when it was closed to the public for four years. It was reopened by the republican authorities in 1935 as a museum.

[Ромејац]

Erasing the Christian past

Sinful paintings on the ceiling?

A fine Byzantine church in Turkey has been converted into a mosque

ON JULY 5th the mufti of Trabzon gathered with other citizens for the first Friday prayers of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, not at a mosque but at an ancient Byzantine church. The gathering was a symbolic re-enactment of the conquest in 1462 of this ancient Greek Black Sea port by Mehmet II, the Ottoman sultan who had wrested Constantinople from the Byzantines in 1453. He marked his victory by converting the Haghia Sophia cathedral of today’s Istanbul into a mosque.

Haghia Sophia’s sister of the same name in Trabzon is less grand. Yet with its dazzling frescoes and magnificent setting overlooking the sea, the 13th-century building is regarded as one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture. As with other Christian monuments, the Haghia Sophia in Trabzon has become a symbol in the battle between secularists and Islamists. It was converted into a mosque around the 16th century and, after other incarnations, became a museum in 1964. But the Islamists won the last round in 2012 when a local court accepted the claim by the General Directorate of the Pious Foundations, the government body responsible for Turkey’s historic mosques, that the Haghia Sophia belonged to the foundation of Mehmet II and was being “illegally occupied” by the culture ministry.

Even so, the mildly Islamist Justice and Development (AK) government carried out the conversion in time for Ramadan. A red carpet now obscures exquisite floor mosaics. Shutters and tents beneath the central dome shield Muslim worshippers from “sinful” paintings of the Holy Trinity. Shiny steel taps with plastic stools for ablutions clutter a once-verdant garden filled with ancient sculptures.The decision provoked surprising anger in a city notorious for its ultra-nationalist views. “It’s about erasing the Christian past, reviving Ottomanism,” says a local historian. “There are enough mosques in Trabzon, half of them empty, what was the need?” chimes in Zeki Bakar, a neighbourhood councillor. A lawsuit has been brought to undo the conversion.

Mazhar Yildirimhan of the Pious Foundations Directorate’s office in Trabzon shrugs off complaints as propaganda. But for experts the conversion is tragic, and will inevitably lead to damaging the building. “It seems to follow closely that of Haghia Sophia in Iznik,” warns Antony Eastmond of the Courtauld Institute of Art, referring to another conversion.

All this is prompting anxiety that the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul “will be next”. These fears are overdone. Restoration work on the famous basilica has continued under a decade of AK rule and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, has dismissed worries about its fate. Yet Mr Yildirimhan makes no secret of his desire for a conversion, which he says is shared by fellow Muslims. “It was ordained by the sultan,” he says. “We have all the records.”

[Ignjatije]

Aja Sofija ponovo postaje džamija?

| IZVOR: BETA

Crkva Svete Sofije u Istanbulu biće modernizovana kako bi opet postala džamija, prenela je danas turska štampa, dok projekat o pretvaranju čuvene crkve u islamsko versko mesto izaziva veliku polemiku.

 

 

Foto: D-StanleyFlickr.com

List "Hurijet" piše danas da bi početkom naredne godine trebalo da počne renoviranje tog zdanja. 

Međutim, Turska i Grčka pre oko nedelju dana povele su oštar verbalni spor o eventualnoj ponovnoj promeni namene turističke atrakcije Istanbula i muzeja Aja Sofija, u džamiju. 

Grčka je oštro reagovala na izjavu zamenika turskog premijera Bulenta Arinča, koji je nedavno izrazio nadu da će "uskoro ponovo biti džamija Svete Sofije". 

Vizantijska crkva Svete Sofije je sagrađena 537. godine, a u džamiju je pretvorena 1453. godine, za vreme Otomanskog carstva. 

Potom je 1935. pretvorena u muzej. Aja Sofija se nalazi na spisku svetske kulturne baštine organizacije UN za obrazovanje, kulturu i nauku (UNESCO). 

Grčko ministarstvo spoljnih poslova saopštilo je da "izjava visokog turskog zvaničnika o konverziji vizantijske crkve u džamiju vređa verska osećanja miliona hrišćana". 

Na to je reagovalo tursko ministarstvo spoljnih poslova, koje je saopštilo da se od Grčke "ništa ne može naučiti" o slobodi vere. 

"Nepovoljan tretman kulturnih predmeta i bogomolja iz otomanskog doba u Grčkoj je veoma dobro poznat svima", navodi se u saopštenju turskog ministarstva.

[Јаков.]

Evo sad jedan mali podsetnik kako je to sve bilo..

30-tih godina prošlog veka, grupa američkih arheologa je uređivala prostor oko Aja Sofije, kao i samu unutrašnjost. Oni su sami finansirali sve, jer je Turska zaista bila siromašna. 

Nakon rekonstrukcije unutrašnjih zidova, pojavili su se prvi mozaici i ikone, koji su vekovima bili prekrečeni i zazidani. 

Amerikanci su preko svoje vlade uložili zahtev da se otkriju svi sačuvani hrišćanski simboli, a turci su se (Ataturk) složili i objekat je postao muzej. To je bilo 1935. godine.

Nekada najveći sakralni objekat na svetu, bez obzira na znatna sredstva, koja su ulagali i Unesko i amerikanci, i turci... propadao je. Zapravo nikad nije ni prestala neka rekonstrukcija, i stalno će je i biti. 

Zabranjeno je versko okupljanje u objektu, ali od 2006. godine postoji prostorija koja služi za molitvu hrišćana. 

Od ove godine (2013) dozvoljeno je da dva puta u toku dana (od pet) sa minareta hodža popodne poziva na molitvu. 

A što se tiče aktuelnog zahteva da muzej postane ponovo džamija..

evo pročitajte iz engleskog izdanja Hurijeta, o čemu se zapravo radi. Interesanti su komentari čitalaca. Ukratko... nema ništa od toga. 

HURIJET

[Ignjatije]

"Turska sad da nam vrati Aja Sofiju"

Poslanici u ruskoj Dumi bi podržali ideju da se od Turske traži vraćanje istanbulske Aja Sofije hrišćanstvu, tvrdi predstavnik komiteta Dume za pitanja imovine.

Izvor: B92

Poslanik Sergej Gavrilov, član Komunističke partije, koji je i na čelu međupartijske grupe za zaštitu hrišćanskih vrednosti kaže da bi to bio prijateljski čin.

"Očekujemo takav gest Turske, vraćanje Aje Sofije hrišćanskoj crkvi. Rusija je spremna da se materijalno angažuje i da za restauraciju zaduži najbolje stručnjake i naučnike", rekao je Gavrilov.

Kako je rekao Gavrilov, to bi bio veliki korak kojim bi, posle obaranja ruskog aviona, "Turska i islam pokazali da je dobra volja iznad politike".

"Tursko-ruski odnosi prolaze kroz test izdržljivosti, pa bi svakakve prijateljske inicijative bile od velikog značaja. Vraćanje Aja Sofije bi bio iskren korak. Mi čekamo", rekao je Gavrilov.

Kontroverzna izjava ruskog poslanika pojavila se u nekoliko ruskih medija, među kojima je i Komersant, u turskim medijima, kao i na američkom konzervativnom sajtu WND naklonjenom republikancima.

Aja Sofija ili Crkva svete mudrosti je remek delo vizajntijske arhitekture i jedno od najupečatljivjih zdanja u Istanbulu. Izgrađena je kao hrišćanska crkva u šestom veku, da bi u 15. veku bila pretvorena u džamiju izgradnjom četiri minareta tokom otomanske okupacije grada. Kemal Ataturk ju je pretvorio u muzej 1935. godine.

http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2015&mm=11&dd=26&nav_category=78&nav_id=1067500

 

 

[Рапсоди]

PROROČANSTVO STARCA PAJSIJA: Rusija će razoriti Tursku, zauzeti Istanbul i izbiti na Persijski zaliv

Turska će biti opustošena i raspašće se na tri – četiri dela. Grci će uzeti Istanbul, Jermeni svoje, Kurdi svoje. Rusi će Grcima predati Istanbul, nekadašnji Carigrad.

Starac Pajsije (foto: Jutjub printskrin)

Ovo je sažetak proročanstva koje je izrekao starac Pajsije, grčki pravoslavni monah sa Svete Gore.

Starac Pajsije je predvideo Turskoj puno problema u bliskoj budućnosti. On istina, ne govori o ruskom učešću u sukobu u Siriji, ali ističe ulogu Rusije u velikim ratovima koji će zahvatiti Bliski Istok. Nakon toga, Rusi će u velikom ratu sa zapadnim silama ipak biti naterani da se povuku nazad, a Istanbul će predati Grcima.

„Uz rusku intervenciju i posle pregovora između velikih sila, Carigrad (Istanbul) će, iz nekih razloga, ponovo biti vraćen Grčkoj jer će ovaj potez koristiti velikim zemljama.“

Jednom oficiru visokog ranga je predskazao: „Ja ću se upokojiti i neću moći da te vidim na paradi, kada sa Grčkom vojskom budeš umarširao u Istanbul.“ Ovo znači da će se to desiti u bliskoj budućnosti, za života i pre penzionisanja tog oficira. Podsetimo da je starac Pajsije preminuo pre 21 godinu, pa ne ostaje puno vremena za ispunjenje ovog proročanstva.

„Turska vojska će se razviti, pa će postati i agresivna da će u jednom trenutku izaći sa tvrdnjom da neka susedna Grčka ostrva pripadaju njima dok svi narodi dobro znaju da je to potpuno pogrešno i bez osnove.“

„Kada turska flota otpočne sa opkoljavanjem nekih grčkih ostrva i zađe šest milja, nažalost, biće potpuno uništena. Ali to neće biti urađeno od nas. To će biti početak kraja…“

„Posle tog ozbiljnog sukoba između Grčke i Turske, veliki i razorni će rat izbiti između Rusije i Turske. U početku, Turci će misliti da su pobedili, ali Rusi će se uključiti u borbu i na kraju će u stvari oni pobediti, pa će zatim uzeti Istanbul-Carigrad koji će se naći u njihovim rukama. Ali, iz nekog razloga i oni će biti primorani da ga predaju.“

„Engleska i SAD vratiće nam Istanbul-Carigrad“, poručio je starac Pajsije svojim Grcima.

„Crkva Aja Sofija (Sveta Sofija) ponovo će postati grčka posle toliko godina“.

[Ромејац]

THE LAST DIVINE LITURGY IN HAGIA SOPHIA OF 1919

It is commonly believed that the last Divine Liturgy in Hagia Sophia in Constantinople took place on May 28, 1453. However, the last Divine Liturgy to really take place in Hagia Sophia was on the 19th of January in 1919, which was officiated by Papa Lefteris Noufrakis (1872-1941) from Rethymno, Crete. The story of this historic event is below.

Once my grandfather told me about a Cretan priest, a true lad, who in January 1919 liturgized under the thousand year old domes of Hagia Sophia!

He knew him well, because he was a military chaplain of the same Division he was in, the Division that later participated in the Asia Minor Campaign and arrived at the gates of Ankara, and drank water from the Sakarya! But alas! this cool water later turned into a hot fiery river of pain and suffering, that burned the hearts of all Greeks.

I did not pay much attention to the words of my grandfather at the time. What he told me seemed impossible, and I considered them to be the result of delirium, a remnant of those unbearable days, and the unimaginable pain my grandfather felt when he recalled the past, and heard the words Ionia, Smyrna, Pergamum, Ayvalık, Trebizond, Kerasos, Saggarios, Eskisechir, Afyonkarahisar, The City, Hagia Sophia! These words had a place in my grandfathers mind and heart, which he held most sacred and nostalgic in this life, even more sacred than his children, his grandchildren, his own life!

Dozens of times I noticed him with my childhood eyes crying - sometimes erupting into sobs and redemptive laments - offering up these holy names which he identified with the timeless history and presence of our Nation on earth. At the time I understood nothing, or almost nothing. Only a vague question dominated my soul from this special stance of my grandfather. Shortly afterwards I realized the crucial impact of these tears, these cries, in my own soul. I understand now, and I will always feel it prevail throughout my being.

My grandfather certainly was right when he said that in January 1919 Hagia Sophia liturgized! The protagonist of this shocking fact of our national life, which unfortunately many Greeks are ignorant of, was a true lad, a sprout from leventi-generating Crete, whose brave children always were a great presence in the struggles of our Nation, from ancient times (Idomeneus, Nearchus etc.) to our days (Macedonian Struggle, Drisko in Epirus, etc.). We are referring to Papa Lefteris Noufrakis from Alones in Rethymno, who served as a military chaplain in the second Greek Division, one of the two Divisions that participated in the early 1919 "allied" expeditionary force in Ukraine. This Division, on the way to Ukraine, briefly stopped in Constantinople, the City of the dreams of the Greek people, which was then under "allied domination" following the end of World War I.

A group of Greek officers, led by the brave Cretan, together with the Brigadier Frantzis, Major Liaromatis, Captain Stamatios and Lieutenant Nicholas gazed at the City and Hagia Sophia from the ship, hiding deep in their hearts their great secret, their great decision which they made the previous night, after the proposal and strong insistence of the lion-hearted Cretan Papa Lefteris Noufrakis. They were to disembark in the City and liturgize in Hagia Sophia!

All of them were skeptical when they heard Papa Lefteris propose this great enterprise. They knew that things were very difficult. Hagia Sophia was still a mosque, and surely some guards would be there, while others would be going to pray, and it wasn't difficult for it to be filled from one moment to another. And then there were their superiors, who would not be in favor of such an action, and it would cause a storm among the "allies" for such a "provocation". It would perhaps even create a diplomatic episode that would embarrass the Greek government and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. But Papa Lefteris had made his decision, and he was decisive and assertive.

"If all of you don't come, I will go by myself! I only want one chanter. You, Constantine (Liaromatis), will you be my chanter?"

"All right, dear Father," the Major replied, who also took the same stance, and everything was in order.  Eventually, all of them went.

The ship carrying the Division anchored in the open sea, so they boarded a boat and a Romios took them to the City, and they soon landed at the waterfront. Kosmas, the native boatman, tied the boat and led them along the shortest path to Hagia Sophia. The door was open as if it was waiting for them. The Turkish guard went to say something in his own language, but a fierce and decisive look by Brigadier Frantzis put him in his place and left him speechless. All entered with reverence and made the sign of the cross. Papa Lefteris whispered with great emotion: "I will enter into Your house, and I will venerate towards Your Holy Temple with fear...."

Progressing quickly and without procrastinating, he identified the location of the Sanctuary and the Holy Altar. Finding a small table, he put it in place, he opened his bag, and took out everything needed for the Divine Liturgy. Then he put on his stole and began:

"Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the ages of ages."

"Amen," responded Major Liaromatis, and the Divine Liturgy at Hagia Sophia began.

"I hope God makes us worthy to complete this," everyone thought, crossing themselves with devotion. The officers seemed to have been at a loss, everything happened so suddenly and it was unbelievable.

The Divine Liturgy proceeded as normal. After 466 entire years Hagia Sophia was liturgizing again! Papa Lefteris continued. Everything was done with sacred propriety, according to the rubrics of the Church. One could hear the "peace be with all," the "Lord have mercy," the "O Only-begotten Son and Word of God," which was written by Justinian himself, who ordered and cared for the building of Hagia Sophia. The Small Entrance followed, then the "To you the Champion Leader," the Epistle was read by Brigadier Frantzis and the Gospel Reading was done by Papa Lefteris. The duties of the sacristan were performed by Lieutenant Nicholas.

Meanwhile Hagia Sophia began to be filled with Turks. Papa Noufrakis was not daunted and continued. Others looked bemused at this fearless priest and the Turks, who until that moment were observing with silence, could not believe their eyes, because that which was taking place at that moment was truly unbelievable.

The Gospel was followed by the Cherubic Hymn by Major Liaromatis, while Papa Lefteris placed the antimension on the table, to do the Proskomidi. The Turks continued to multiply. As time passed it was tough, but also unforgettable and epic. Papa Noufrakis continued. He takes a small Holy Chalice out of his bag, a paten, a knife and a small prosphoron with a small bottle of wine. With sacred emotion and devotion he does the Proskomidi, while Liaromatis continued chanting the Cherubic Hymn. When the Proskomidi was completed, he turned to Lieutenant Nicholas and told him to light a candle so he could follow him during the Great Entrance. The young Lieutenant went ahead and lit the candle, behind him was the priest crying out: "May the Lord God remember all of us...."

Then the Supplications and the Creed followed, which was said by Frantzis. Meanwhile Hagia Sophia was full of Turks and among them were many Greeks from the City, who happened to be there at the moment the Divine Liturgy was being celebrated, and they followed along with emotion, without daring to externalize their feelings "for fear of the Jews," that is, the Turks. Only at certain times they could not restrain their tears flowing from their eyes and not betray their care, wiping them away before they became a "fiery" river which they could not hold back.

The Liturgy meanwhile reached its most sacred point - the Anaphora. With an emotional voice Papa Lefteris said: "Your own of Your own, we offer to You, for all and through all." All the officers knelt and the voice of Major Liaromatis could be heard chanting: "We sing to You, we bless You, we thank You, Lord, and we pray to You, our God." After a short while the bloodless sacrifice of our Lord was completed in Hagia Sophia, after 466 entire years! This was followed by the "Axion Estin," the "Our Father," and the "With the fear of God, faith and love draw near," and all the officers approached to commune from the Immaculate Mysteries. Papa Lefteris quickly said the prayers while Liaromatis chanted: "Blessed be the Name of the Lord...," while the rest of the Holy Communion was consumed. Speaking to Lieutenant Nicholas, he said: "Gather everything quickly and put it in the bag," then he did the Dismissal!

The Divine Liturgy in Hagia Sophia was completed. It was the dream of dozens of generations of Greeks, and it had become a reality. Papa Noufrakis and the four officers were ready to leave and return to the ship. Hagia Sophia however was full of Turks, who began to become enraged and aggressive when they realized what happened. The Greeks were in immediate danger. But they did not hesitate, and approached each other, becoming as "one body," and they proceeded towards the exit.

The Turks were ready to attack them, when a Turkish official presented himself with others following him, saying: "Let them pass." He said it with hatred. He wanted to paint his hands with their blood, but at that moment this is how things had to be, and it was not in the interest of their country nor necessary to kill five Roman officers in Hagia Sophia.

Do not forget that around the City were two embattled Greek Divisions and that Constantinople was essentially under the dominance of the victors of World War I, and this of course did not include the Turks.

On hearing this the Turks retreated. Papa Noufrakis and the other officers exited Hagia Sophia and headed for the waterfront, where a boat waited for them.

A husky Turk followed them, and lifting a piece of wood he rushed to hit Papa Noufrakis. He sensed that this priest was the instigator, the creator of this event. The heroic priest bent to avoid being hit, but the Turk managed to hit him on the shoulder. His body bent from the unbearable pain, but he gathered his strength, got up, and continued on his way. Meanwhile Major Liaromatis and Captain Stamatios disarmed the Turk, who was ready to give his most powerful and probably final blow to the priest.

Finally, they approach the boat. They all enter. Kosmas gathered all the ropes and begins to quickly row. Soon they boarded the Greek warship safe and victorious. Of course there followed a diplomatic incident, and the "allies" strongly protested to Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, who was forced to reprimand Papa Lefteris Noufrakis. But secretly he contacted him and "praised and congratulated the patriot priest, who even for a short time brought Hagia Sophia to life, the most sacred dream of our Nation."

In a few lines this was the history of the Divine Liturgy that took place after 466 years in Hagia Sophia by the heroic Papa Lefteris Noufrakis. Certainly most modern Greeks are ignorant of this. The name of the lion-hearted Cretan says nothing to our minds and hearts. But this simple priest from Alones in Rethymno lifted on his shoulders and brought to life, even for a short time, one of the most epic, most holy and most sacred dreams of the Nation.

Even though I searched I could not find anything to remind the Neo-Greeks of this heoric priest and his daring heroic act. There is no bust in his village, in the city of Rethymno, on the grounds of the Archdiocese of Crete, or in some square of the capital of Greece. No street, even the most insignificant, bears his name. No mention is made of his life and actions in the context of our local or national history. None of this has been done! Not for him!

He paid this debt without any kind of retribution. But this was for us, for us who have need of such heroic models, of powerful supports, to keep and save everything possible of our identity, of the ideals of our Nation, of our own soul.

A children's book in Greek that educates children about this historic Divine Liturgy in 1919.

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/79952.htm