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Pompeo: Hagia Sophia Should Remain a Museum

With this important statement, the US State Department has taken a strong stand against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to convert Hagia Sophia, part of the religious and cultural heritage of the entire world and people of all faiths, into a mosque. The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, applauds this statement and urgently hopes that the Turkish government will pay it careful heed, and move to protect the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all the Christians of that country.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO

July 1, 2020

The Status of the Hagia Sophia

The Government of Turkey has administered the Hagia Sophia as a museum – officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul World Heritage Site – in an outstanding manner for nearly a century.  We urge the Government of Turkey to continue to maintain the Hagia Sophia as a museum, as an exemplar of its commitment to respect the faith traditions and diverse history that contributed to the Republic of Turkey, and to ensure it remains accessible to all.

This extraordinary site is a testament to religious expression and to artistic and technical genius, reflected in its rich and complex 1,500-year history.  Moreover, the site’s status as a museum has allowed people from all over the world to access and reflect upon this magnificent achievement.

The United States views a change in the status of the Hagia Sophia as diminishing the legacy of this remarkable building and its unsurpassed ability—so rare in the modern world—to serve humanity as a much-needed bridge between those of differing faith traditions and cultures.  We seek to continue to work with the Government of Turkey on a broad range of issues of mutual interest, including the preservation of religious and cultural sites.

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