His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
"The conversion of the Agia Sophia Museum into a mosque would disappoint millions of Christians ​around the world
​“We hope that wisdom and reason ultimately prevail,”
“What can I say as a Christian clergyman and the Greek patriarch in Istanbul? Instead of uniting, a 1,500-year-old heritage is dividing us. I am saddened and shaken,”
“we have survived for 17 centuries and we will stay here forever, as God wills.”
​We hope that the terrible news about Hagia Sophia does not signal a deterioration of the stand of the Turkish government toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the other Christian minorities of Turkey, and a negative turn from respect for religious freedom. The re-conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is the worst example of religious chauvinism. By shuttering Hagia Sophia as a monument, Turkey has shut the window that Ataturk opened to the world. #HagiaSophia
​"we consider the cancellation of Atatürk’s decision and unilateral reconverting of Hagia Sophia into a mosque to be not only a historical injustice, but also a rush and unnecessary political movement, detrimental both to the international image of Turkey in the world and to the relations and trust between Christians and Muslims in the world."
Very sad 
"Hagia Sophia still stands as a beacon of light, a monument of faith and of the power of God in the hearts of human beings."
​"The imam of Milan and president of the Italian Islamic Religious Community, Iaya Palavicini, has taken an open stance against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque."
“With this backward action, Turkey is opting to sever links with the Western world and its values,”
"Agia Sophia is a pinnacle of human achievement"
​NCC Laments the Turkish Decision to Convert the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque
“we believe that such an action would directly challenge religious freedom in Turkey, spark unnecessary controversy"
it’s very clear the Turkish government has no respect for Christianity or its history. In fact, it’s clear Turkey has blatant disdain for the Christian faith.
​“Hagia Sophia is a Christian church, as it is also implied by its name, and, therefore, its conversion into a mosque is unnecessary,” the Mufti of Komotini, Hali Jihad
"reiterated our deep disappointment with Turkey’s decision on Agia Sophia,”
​"Turkey seeks to desecrate the most sacred Church of Agia Sophia by converting it into something it was never intended to be."
US State Department
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.  

The United States views a change in the status of the Agia 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.  
​Presidents of Churches Together in England, representing the full breadth of Christian traditions in England, are saddened at the decision of the Turkish Government to change the status of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

For a long period of time Hagia Sophia has been a unique centre symbolising a co-existence of people of faith. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, as a place where the rich history of Istanbul is told visually, can be a living example of religious tolerance and respect. The decision to alter the status quo in this way is a powerful, symbolic change that is lamentable and painful for many people of faith the world over.
  • Archbishop Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Cardinal Vincent Nichols, The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
  • Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, The Free Churches
  • Archbishop Angaelos of London, Archbishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London CTE President for Orthodox Churches 
  • Pastor Agu Irukwu, Redeemed Christian Church of God UK CTE Pentecostal President
Patriarch Cyril of Moscow​
“deeply concerned” by the moves, describing Hagia Sophia as “one of the greatest monuments of Christian culture.”

“A threat to Hagia Sophia is a threat to the whole of Christian civilization, and therefore to our spirituality and history,” 

“To this day, for every Russian Orthodox person, Hagia Sophia is a great Christian shrine,” urging the Turkish government to be cautious.
Order of St Andrew the Apostle 
"To convert it into a mosque now would be to repudiate that respect and deny the Hagia Sophia’s origin as a Church dedicated to Jesus Christ and as a sacred place, a part of our collective heritage."
Executive Order on
​Advancing International Religious Freedom 
“Religious freedom for all people worldwide is a foreign policy priority of the United States, and the United States will respect and vigorously promote this freedom.” 
Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem
​This magnificent Byzantine Church structure, which captivates the world until today, has a history stretching even farther back into Christendom than the 6th century.


To Turkey’s credit that for nearly 100 years it has administered the Hagia Sophia as a museum in order to maintain an extent of neutrality over the site.
Patriarch Daniel of Bucharest
​In a letter to the head of Orthodoxy, Daniel expressed support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, defending the current status of Hagia Sophia, taking into account the invaluable value of the church, which is recognized as a civilized and unanimously recognized Christian symbol.

Recorded by UNESCO in the 1985 World Heritage List.

At the same time, Mr. Daniel expresses his solidarity with all those who defend this symbol of Orthodoxy
Social Media
​President Vladimir Putin
Called on Mr Erdogan to take into account Hagia Sophia's “very deep sacred spiritual value” 
​Sheikh Imran Hosein
Shame on you!
Shame on you!
​Shame on you!
Chionta Kagia  -Turkish Parliament member
If converted, it should return as a church...
​Numan Kurtulmuş
“We hope it will open sooner. I wish that. I also hope that the court will make a good decision.”
​Onur Erim
“When you conquer some place … that’s it, you get all the rights to it,” said Erim, who worked for the former AK Party mayor of the capital Ankara.
​
“To me, opening up the Hagia Sophia mosque is a big issue. It goes beyond the AK Party, it goes beyond Erdogan, it goes beyond any party in Turkey or any kind of political viewpoint.”