Anthimos
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 as a non for profit organization. The International Congregation of Agia Sophia is active in Europe as the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia,” based in Luxembourg. And as the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia – Greece,” based in Athens.
The mission of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” and the Free Agia Sophia Council of the United States and Europe is to restore Agia Sophia as a functioning Church of the Christian faith, as the Cathedral of Orthodox Christianity, just as it was when it was consecrated before the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Members of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” are tens of thousands Greek Orthodox Christians around the world and thousands of other Christians, as well as individuals of different ethnic and religious background.
We the members of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” consider ourselves to be the decedents of the faithful who were inside the Great Church of Agia Sophia the day it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks on May 29th, 1453.
For us, the members of the International Congregation of Agia Sophia, it is a fundamental principle that no government has or should have the right to determine the use of Holy Sites, to appoint religious leaders and determine their religious responsibilities.
“The International Congregation of Agia Sophia” has already notified the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Tayip Erdogan of its decision to be in Istanbul on September 17th, 2010 and conduct Holy liturgy Services in Agia Sophia.
Thessaloniki is a special historical point as it relates to the Great Church of Agia Sophia in Istanbul. As you all well know, the conqueror of Constantinople, Mohamed II the Conqueror, converted Agia Sophia from a Christian Church to a Mosque to serve his personal religious needs.
As far as we know today, Mohamed II did so because his mother was a Christian and he was also a crypto Christian. The Conqueror converted Agia Sophia into a Mosque in order to protect the Great Church from other Ottoman leaders who were, fanatical anti Christians, and who took part in the conquest of Constantinople.
The Conqueror offered his mother the nearby Christian Church, of Agia Irene at Top kapi, for her Christian religious needs. In order for his mother to pray in Agia Sophia, he made his mother Sultan of Thessaloniki and issued her by decree giving her the “little” Agia Sophia, here in Thessaloniki.
The “Little” Agia Sophia, as you know, is the Cathedral of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, as it was throughout Byzantium.
Under the prism of these historical facts, the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” asked His All Holiness Anthimos, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, for his blessings for our efforts and requested that he conduct Holy Liturgy in “Little” Agia Sophia.
His All Holiness kindly agreed and for this we sincerely thank him. On Sunday, May 23rd 2010, the day we celebrate God’s Holly Wisdom, His All Holiness will conduct Holy Liturgy Service in “Little” Agia Sophia, in the presence of members of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia”.
Thus, from the “Little” free Agia Sophia we will be able to say…
Hronia Polla enslaved Mother, Agia Sophia…
We will be with you September 17th!
President’s Chris Spirou Press Conference with Metropolitan Anthimos