HAGIA SOPHIA

 


Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) is the third church to be built on this site of Constantinople, now Istanbul. Byzantine emperor Justinian I (Roman Emperor from 0527 to 0565 Current Era) ordered its reconstruction in 0532 after riots destroyed the earlier church. After five years it was completed and was inaugurated on 27 December 0537. When a dome collapsed he rebuilt it on 07 May 0558. Rededicated on 24 December 0563 when an earthquake destroyed it. Icon veneration was officially re-instated in Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople on 11 March 0843. It was the world's largest building till Seville's Cathedral was built in 1520. It served as the Greek Orthodox cathedral, where Eastern Emperors were crowned. Regarded as the height of Byzantine architecture it is famous for its massive dome and mosaic decoration inside. Turkish Ottoman Sultan II also known as Mehmed the Conqueror converted it into a mosque in 1453. In 1935 Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, made it a museum. Joseph Stalin President of the Soviet Union, also demolished spacious churches and constructed universities, General Hospitals, and Research Centres in those places. On 10.7.2020 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turned it into a mosque. The sacredness of places of prayer caused crises in many parts of the world. Jerusalem is considered sacred by all the Abraham religions viz., Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druzism, and Samaritanism. So Jews wanted a separate country including Jerusalem. Hence, Israel was created. Ayodhya is propagated as the birthplace of the "Lord" Ram and sacred for Vaidikvadis. Babri masjid constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Babar is dismantled. Ram temple is built. For political gains, The Places of Worship Act 1991 is violated by the followers of present rulers. Either Shivling or some Hindu idol is "traced" in every mosque. This will continue to continue the Sangh Pariwar rule. Even the Muslims are also rigid in their arguments. The then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee requested the Imams to leave the place of Babri Masjid. Promised to construct it elsewhere of their choice with the same bricks. They did not accept his offer. The results are the dismantlement of the Babri Mosque, the construction of Ram Mandir, and the most dangerous fascist Modi's BJP rule. They are not compromising in their sacred places. In the new constructions also, they do not care about the public roads and the traffic.  

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