International Group Calls for Lift of the 557 year Blockade on Agia Sophia, The Great Christian Church in Istanbul, Turkey

–“End the Blockade of Orthodox Christians – Let Us Pray”

–Mass Gathering and Prayer in Holy Site on September 17, 2010
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    International Group Calls for Lift of the 557 year Blockade on Agia Sophia, The Great Christian Church in Istanbul, Turkey  --“End the Blockade of Orthodox Christians - Let Us Pray”  --Mass Gathering and Prayer in Holy Site on September 17, 2010  ---------------------- Washington, D.C., August 6, 2010--Chris Spirou, President of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” www.freeagiasophia.org, has asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep ...

“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 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 ...

“The use of AGIA IRENE for purposes other than those which it was consecrated, prayer and liturgy, at a time when prayer and liturgy are forbidden within the Church, represents an anachronistic Ottoman behavior in its worse manifestation.” Continue reading →

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 ...

The President of International Congregation of Agia Sophia informs French President Sarkozy on the current state of Agia Sophia in his letter to Prime Minister Erdogan, dated July 9, 2008. Continue reading →

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The President of the International Congregation of Agia Sophia informs Pope Benedict XVI for the current situation of Agia Sophia in his letter to Prime Minister Erdogan, dated July 9, 2008. Continue reading →

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“The Ottoman military policies which have transformed one of Christianity’ s holiest
places into an intemational bazaar must come to an end now. Five hundred and fιfty
seνen years is shamefully long enough!” Continue reading →

FREE AGIA SOPHIA COUNCIL OF AMERICA Chris Spirou, President His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan Ρrime Minister Republic of Turkey Ankara, Turkey Manchester, New Hampshire July 9, 2008 Mr. Prime Minister, As the President of the "Free Agia Sophia Council of America," based ίn the State of New Hampshire ίn the United States of America, and of the "Free Agia Sophia Council of Europe," based ίn Luxembourg, the European Union, Ι am ...