Athens, 28 March 2022

Maximos Harakopoulos on Hagia Sophia in Milan: "Are we prepared as Europeans to defend our values?"

"I am very happy to be in Milan, a city engraved in global memory as the place where the famous edict of Milan, establishing religious tolerance and the freedom of the Church was issued in 313 A.D. An event that would indelibly mark the European history and the European spirit for all the centuries to come." With these words, the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, member of the Greek Parliament, Dr Maximos Charakopoulos, began his speech at the presentation of the volume "Hagia Sophia: The temples of the Wisdom of God around the world" at the Galleria Meravigli in Milan in the presence of the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Mr Bruno Tabaci, who warmly welcomed the IAO initiative.

Maximos Charakopoulos expressed "our deep sorrow for what is happening at the core of Europe, in Ukraine. The IAO, as of the beginning of this war has supported the path of diplomacy, reconciliation and peace. The solution to problems and contradictions should not be given by weapons, but by reason.

Our visit to Milan, however, is related to a cultural project, the publication of a valuable book in Italian. This book of exceptional quality, both in terms of aesthetics and scientific validity, presents 37 emblematic Temples dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God. These are Temples extending throughout a huge imaginary line starting from Britain and passing through Europe, reaching the depths of Asia. Hagia Sophia of Istanbul lies at the centre of this axis, exhibiting its incomparable beauty and deep spirituality. A temple built by the emperor Justinian, in 537, the last meeting point in-time of the East and the West, within the great Roman Empire ".

Awakening of the international community

The ΙΑΟ Ηead denounced the "disrespectful action" of turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque, arguing that "civilised humanity should not remain silent at the face of such a violation of basic values ​​of our culture and even of international rules. Because this unique monument has been included in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1985. So far, reactions to this ungodly act by Turkey have not been as expected. And this should raise concerns, as to whether we, as Europeans, are willing to stand up for our values. The IAO, from the very beginning has engaged in efforts to awaken the international community. In this context, we also published this volume. We are very pleased that the second official presentation of the volume takes place in Italy.

First, because it is the country hosting the most Hagia Sophia temples in the world, after Greece and Russia. A total of 6 emblematic temples of original architectural style and diverse historical value, stretching from Venice to the historic Mercurion of Calabria.

Second, because in the Italian Peninsula the Orthodox and the Catholic Christian traditions maintain a timeless,active, dialectical and fruitful relationship".

Distinguished guests

Further to Dr Maximos Charakopoulos, the President of the Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, Mr Vassilis Koukoussas, spoke at length about the volume. Participants were welcomed by the President of the Greek community of Milan, Mrs Sofia Zafeiropoulou, while the event was coordinated by the IAO Advisor, Dr Costas Mygdalis. Further to the Deputy Minister at Prime Minister Office Mr Bruno Tabaci, the event was honored by the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate  Metropolitan of Italy Polycarpos, Orthodox MPs from various countries, the Honorary Consul of Greece in Milan Mr Nikolaos Sakaros, the representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church Fr Tirayr Hakobyan, the representative of Greece at the NATO Headquarters of Italy, Brigadier General Stergios Kazakis, the President of the Federation of Greek Communities and Brotherhoods Mr Dimitrios Fessas, academic community representatives and  a big number of people.

 

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