“Compare what the Turks did to Agia Sophia to Israel’s protection of the sanctity and guaranteed absolute access by Muslims to the holy sites on the ancient Temple Mount of the al-Aqsa Mosque facing Mecca and the Dome of the Rock ever since Israel regained control over Jerusalem in 1967. These are facts, Mr. Prime Minister. Do you deny them?”

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By Lanny J. Davis June 10, 2010 When several years ago I first met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and had the pleasure to have two private conversations with him, he immediately struck me as the ultimate “purple” leader. As The Washington Post wrote recently, “Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party has religious roots, but it also draws conservative entrepreneurs and liberals ...

Remarks made by The Honorable Chris Spirou, President of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” during a joint press conference with His All Holiness, The Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Anthimos. Continue reading →

Remarks made by The Honorable Chris Spirou, President of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” during a joint press conference with His All Holiness, The Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Anthimos. Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki, May 7th, 12:30 p.m. Your All Holiness, Ladies and Gentlemen, The “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” was founded in the United States of America in 2005.  It is recognized ...

On Saturday February 27th / March 13th 2010, His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, met with Mr. Chris Spirou, former Chairman of the New Hampshire State Democratic Party in the United States of America, and President of the … Continue reading →

On Saturday February 27th / March 13th 2010, His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, met with Mr. Chris Spirou, former Chairman of the New Hampshire State Democratic Party in the United States of America, and President of the Hellenic American Union in Athens. Mr. Spirou is also President of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” based in the ...

Letter of support to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan from the President of the International Congregation of Agia Sophia regarding the racist and discriminatory practices in Switzerland against the Muslim faithful. Continue reading →

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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the Greek government should be more sensitive to the demands of its Turkish minority in light of expectations for Turkey to open Halki (Heybeliada) Seminary. Continue reading →

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the Greek government should be more sensitive to the demands of its Turkish minority in light of expectations for Turkey to open Halki (Heybeliada) Seminary, which has been closed since 1971 and was the only school where Turkey’s Greek minority was able to educate its clergymen. Erdogan was responding to a question on the ...

“His All Holiness Bartholomew and the patriarchate are crucified, but if we say it Turkish style, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government are also suffering from “hellish torture.” What a pity they cannot help each other!” Continue reading →

Bartholomew is crucified and Erdoğan suffers from Hellish torture (2) by ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ Today's Zaman 30.12.2009 Op-Ed   Turkey has simply followed the Progress and Union Party’s (Ittihat ve Terakki) policy of getting rid of non-Muslims from Turkey, which started when the Ottoman Empire was falling apart at the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1915 Turkey has applied this policy on ...

“While the patriarch is accepted as the leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians all over the world, he has been subjected to persecution in his homeland here in Turkey for using his title of “ecumenical.” Not to mention threats, physical attacks and other kind of intimidation.” Continue reading →

      Bartholomew crucified, Erdoğan suffers from Hellish torture!(1) by ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ   Turkey is such a complex country. Its problems are so complex, so sophisticated and they all have historic roots. Turkey seems to have changed very quickly on the one hand, but if you focus on problematic areas you will see nothing is actually changing. Look at this recent “crucifixion” discussion in Turkey. ...

“Prime Minister Erdoğan, on Friday, September 17, 2010, our Congregation will come to Istanbul to conduct Holy Liturgy Services in the Church of Agia Sophia. September 17 is the day the Orthodox Christian religion celebrates the holy feast day of Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love.” Continue reading →

September 16, 2009 His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Prime Minister, Republic of Turkey Ankara, Turkey Your Excellency Prime Minister Erdoğan, I am writing to inform you that our organizations, “The International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” the “Free Agia Sophia Council of America,” and the “Free Agia Sophia Council of Europe,” and our members from throughout the world will visit Istanbul in September of 2010. The ...

“Η χρήση ενός ιερού χώρου για σκοπούς ξένους, αν όχι αντίθετους προς τον προορισμό του, όπως έγινε στην ΑΓΙΑ ΕΙΡΗΝΗ, τη στιγμή που απαγορεύεται η χρήση της ως χώρου προσευχής και εκκλησιασμού, εκφράζει αναχρονιστική οθωμανική νοοτροπία στη χειρότερή της μορφή.”
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PRESS RELEASE   Athens, July 9th, 2009 Chris Spirou, President of the “Free Agia Sophia Council of America”and the “Free Agia Sophia Council of Europe” today condemned the decision of the Government of Turkey to authorize a popular music concert inside the Orthodox Christian Church of AGIA IRENE in Istanbul, Turkey. At a packed news conference in Athens, Greece, President Spirou issued the following ...

“Freedom of religion and other human rights for non-Muslim minorities in Turkey and for the Muslim minority in Thrace (Eastern Greece).” Continue reading →

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