Greece to Request Turkey Not to Convert Church in Istanbul to Mosque

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced two days before his visit to Ankara that he "will ask the Turkish president to retract the decision to convert an ancient Orthodox church in Istanbul into a mosque." This decision to convert the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora into a mosque was made by Ankara in 2020. Mitsotakis stated that "the timing of the (decision) coinciding with my visit will certainly allow me to raise this issue and see if there is a possibility to cancel this decision." Muslims prayed for the first time in the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora on Monday after it had been closed for four years before being converted into a mosque. The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday the "provocation" from Ankara, considering that the conversion of the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora "alters its character and constitutes an affront to this UNESCO World Heritage site that belongs to all of humanity." It is worth noting that the church was built during the Byzantine era, similar to the Hagia Sophia, and is adorned with mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 14th century, including representations of the Day of Judgment.