Hagia Sophia | Akathist Hymn in Athens and mournful bell tolling in Cyprus – America

Defence Redefined

24/07/2020

The bells will toll mournfully today in all the churches of the Archdiocesan District in Cyprus.

The announcement of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus states that – according to the instructions of Archbishop Chrysostomos – today, Friday 24 July 2020, mournful bells will toll in all the churches of the Archdiocese, at 12:00 and for 5 minutes, in view of the arbitrary, unacceptable and criminal conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Also read: The Parliament unanimously approved a resolution condemning the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

The bells in all the churches of the Holy Archdiocese of America will toll mournfully, while at the same time, all the flags in the Greek Orthodox churches will be flying half-mast. This decision was made by the Holy Synod of the Archdiocese of America, which had a teleconference on July 16, chaired by the Archbishop of America Elpidoforos.

The Holy Synod characterized the 24th of July as a day of mourning and intense sorrow for the “seizure of Hagia Sophia Church, our Hagia Sophia”. The members of the Holy Synod, addressing – with their circular – the holy clergy and the people, speak of the “inauguration” of a program of cultural and spiritual embezzlement and violation of every model of harmonious coexistence and mutual respect and declare that they will not stop openly expressing their position on our Hagia Sophia, refusing to give up their just pursuits.

“We have heard the cries of your agony and your pain,” note the Greek Orthodox hierarchs of America, calling on all clergy and the people in every church of the Archdiocese to sing the Akathist Hymn this afternoon, just as they sing it on Good Friday. 

Also read: The reactions of the Greek community to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

In addition, at 8 p.m., the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos will preside over the Akathist Hymn service at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, according to an announcement by the Archdiocese.

Source: ANA MPA