ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Hagia Sophia in Trebizond Now Functioning As A Mosque

Having entered the Christmas season, we ask those who find the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center beneficial to them to help us continue our work with a generous financial gift as you are able. As an incentive, we are offering the following booklet.

In 1909 the German philosopher Arthur Drews wrote a book called "The Myth of Christ", which New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman has called "arguably the most influential mythicist book ever produced," arguing that Jesus Christ never existed and was simply a myth influenced by more ancient myths. The reason this book was so influential was because Vladimir Lenin read it and was convinced that Jesus never existed, thus justifying his actions in promoting atheism and suppressing the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union. Moreover, the ideologues of the Third Reich would go on to implement the views of Drews to create a new "Aryan religion," viewing Jesus as an Aryan figure fighting against Jewish materialism.

Due to the tremendous influence of this book in his time, George Florovsky viewed the arguments presented therein as very weak and easily refutable, which led him to write a refutation of this text which was published in Russian by the YMCA Press in Paris in 1929. This apologetic brochure titled "Did Christ Live? Historical Evidence of Christ" was one of the first texts of his published to promote his Neopatristic Synthesis, bringing the patristic heritage to modern historical and cultural conditions. With the revival of these views among some in our time, this text is as relevant today as it was when it was written.

Never before published in English, it is now available for anyone who donates at least $20 to the Mystagogy Resource Center upon request (please specify in your donation that you want the book). Thank you.

July 2, 2013

Hagia Sophia in Trebizond Now Functioning As A Mosque

Unfortunately, the Church of Hagia Sophia in Trebizond, which has been a museum for the past 52 years, now functions as a mosque.

It functioned as a mosque since the fall of Trebizond in the 15th century, and in 1961 it was converted into a museum. Recently Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stated that it would be better for the church to remain a museum than to become a mosque once again.

On Friday 28 June 2013, 50 Muslims held their first prayers. The Director of the Directorate for Foundations of Trebizond, Mazchar Yildirim, said that "today launched the personal prayer of the faithful. Next week we will do a formal ceremony." He said that besides the hours of prayer (Muslims pray five times a day) the specific location will continue to operate as a museum.

The icononography and mosaics of Hagia Sophia Museum were covered during the time of prayer with carpets and curtains, without the use of nails that would cause damage, Mazchar Yildirim assured, who is the protector of the museum.