Orthodox-Islamic Cooperation

In today’s modern society, of so called Religious freedoms and tolerance, have we truly come to an age of understanding and mutual respect for each others religious beliefs and practices? If so, why has such a wonderful society past over the Christian community of Turkey? Turkey’s present-day Greek Orthodox community has missed out on the universal rights that other Religious communities around the world hold. Why, is the current situation allowed to continue with no reaction from the international community? Why has the voice of the Greek Orthodox Community in Turkey gone unheard?

Some would call the current situation in Turkey a clear reaction to the current Middle Eastern Conflict and attempt to include it into some ongoing Christian-Muslim feud. However, it is my belief that this is not the case, but rather it is the Turkish state and Kemalist ideology, which are to blame rather then the Islamic faith. Would a Muslim like to see his or her holiest places tampered with? I believer the answer would be the same as it would be for a Christian. So then why haven’t the Greek Orthodox sites and community of Turkey been given the same respect?

An example of the ongoing hypocrisy lies with the former Greek Orthodox Church of Hagia Sophia. The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God was the most important religious structure and center focal point of Orthodoxy for over 1,000 years. Built on the Holy grounds of an ancient Greek pagan temple site, the church was first erected as the Megali Ecclesia or Great Church, being commissioned by Constantine the Great. Destroyed twice, the Church was reconstructed by Emperor Justinian I, expanding the Church’s size and importance. Being the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the setting for Imperial ceremonies, Hagia Sophia was a sight to be seen. With the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, however, the Great Church was converted into a Mosque until 1935. When it was turned into a Museum, which it remains till this very day.

The importance of this religious structure to the Orthodox World can only compared to the Islamic worlds own Dome of the Rock. Today’s oldest standing Islamic building; this Mosque stands on the site once the praying direction for all Muslims before Mecca. The holy site is reported to be the location where Muhammad ascended to Heaven to receive the Islamic prayers before returning to Earth. Like Hagia Sophia, the location itself has been the scene of other religious buildings of different faiths as well, finding it in the past also as a Holy place for Pagans, Jews, and Christians alike.

Today the Dome of the Rock finds itself surrounded by controversy. It was Ariel Sharon’s visit here that sparked a return to Middle Eastern violence. It is the focal point of many theories about Christianity’s Second Coming and the Jewish Messianic Era. It is even the subject of political wishes to relocate the structure to Mecca so that the Third Jewish Temple came be built. Much like its Orthodox Christian counterpoint, Hagia Sophia, which finds itself the center of controversy in Turkey. Both buildings are the center focus of their religious communities, both receiving political calls for their removal and relocation, and both being seen as a religious place of worship by other communities. It is because of this that both of these Holy places must be protected and allowed to be used for their single most important purpose as the center of their religious communities’ lives. With this in mind, that I believe it is up to the Orthodox World to call out to the Islamic world for a sense of mutual understanding concerning Hagia Sophia based on empathy from the Islamic world because of a mutual understanding based on their Dome of the Rock situation.

It is because of this that a call must go forth to the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Calling for a mutual understanding and joint cause to help both the Orthodox and Islamic World in protecting and securing their religious independence in today’s modern World. Using each others political and religious power to aid each other in their common search for religious tolerance. Having the Orthodox Church’s voice joining the international cause to protect the Dome of the Rock from Zionist dreams and having the Islamic Conferences influence to put pressure on the state of Turkey in protecting its Orthodox citizens.