By Panagis Dionysios Malik Evangelatos

By Panagis Dionysios Malik Evangelatos

Institution: San Francisco State University

Email: mevangelatos@ssfusd.org; mevangelatos@sfsu.edu; evangelatosgr@gmail.com 

Keywords: Hagia Sophia; Ayasofya; Greek Orthodox Church; Cultural heritage preservation; Heritage ethics; Soft-power diplomacy; Greek–Turkish relations; UNESCO World Heritage

Abstract

This is the first thesis to argue that restoring Hagia Sophia to the Greek Orthodox Church is geopolitically advantageous for Türkiye.

Introduction

Restoring Hagia Sophia to its original purpose as a Greek Orthodox church is geopolitically advantageous for Türkiye. Doing so aligns with Hagia Sophia’s foundational identity, and with the principles of heritage ethics. Additionally, it reflects best practices for the custodianship of a universally recognized heritage monument, and would improve diplomatic relations between Greece and Türkiye. 

Hagia Sophia is among the most symbolically potent religious monuments in the world. Over the millennia it has undergone many transformations, none of which were voluntary. In 532 A.D. the Eastern Roman Emperor Justianian commissioned Hagia Sophia explicitly for use as a Greek Orthodox church. From its inception to its completion- when he famously declared, “Soloman, I have surpassed thee!”-Hagia Sophia was built by the Greek Orthodox community, for the Greek Orthodox community. The soft-power that Türkiye would gain by restoring Hagia Sophia to its foundational identity and purpose would constitute a significant geopolitical windfall.

In 1204 AD Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade assumed control of Hagia Sophia and repurposed it as a Roman Catholic church. In 1261, it was restored to a Greek Orthodox church. It remained so until 1453, when the Ottomans repurposed it as a Sunni mosque. In both cases, Hagia Sophia was diverted from its foundational purpose against the will of the Greek Orthodox community. In 1934 Kemal Mustafa Atatürk repurposed Hagia Sophia as a museum. It remained as such until 2020, when Recep Tayyib Erdogan repurposed it as a mosque-museum hybrid. 

Considering Eastern Roman history, Ottoman administrative precedent, modern Turkish secularism, UNESCO obligations, and international norms regarding religious heritage sites, restoring Hagia Sophia to its original ecclesiastical function as a Greek Orthodox church would not undermine Türkiye’s sovereignty, but rather elevate its international reputation and position it as a global leader in religious heritage preservation. It would also reduce Greek-Turkish tensions, support minority rights on both sides of the Greek-Turkish border, and contribute to a broader narrative of a shared Eastern Roman-Ottoman civilization.

Hagia Sophia stands as a monument where civilizations converge. Its status is more than just architecture: it is the crown jewel of Greek Orthodoxy, and therefore belongs under Greek Orthodox administration. Repurposing Hagia Sophia from its original religious foundational identity and purpose is a blemish on the reputation of those who’ve done so. That blemish can only be removed by restoring it to its original ecclesiastical purposes. The argument for this is not framed in national, ethnic or religious pride. Rather, it is a heritage-based, diplomatic, and ethical proposal rooted in three core principles: 

1) Historical authenticity and continuity: Hagia Sophia was built, consecrated, and functioned as the center of Greek Orthodox Christianity. Its foundational identity and explicit purpose is ecclesiastical. 

2) Interfaith reconciliation: Returning Hagia Sophia to its original community would constitute a powerful gesture of sincere goodwill on behalf of Türkiye towards Greece. 

3) International responsibility: As the steward of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Türkiye would benefit culturally, diplomatically, and economically from restoring Hagia Sophia to a Greek Orthodox church.

Historical Foundations and Ecclesiastical Identity 

Hagia Sophia is the spiritual center of Greek Orthodoxy. It was the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the site of imperial coronations, councils, and liturgical services. Its original function was never generic or secular. It was theological, liturgical, and doctrinal. The structure’s acoustics, mosaics, dome design and ritual layout were specifically designed and built by the Greek Orthodox community for use as a Greek Orthodox church.

The repurposing of Hagia Sophia as a Roman Catholic cathedral, a Sunni mosque and a museum, are all part of Hagia Sophia’s long history. However, they were not formative nor were they voluntary. The cathedral, mosque and museum periods reinterpreted it against the will of its creators. 

Heritage Ethics 

Modern heritage ethics prioritize authenticity, original function, and cultural continuity. Hagia Sophia’s original and most enduring intangible tradition is as a Greek Orthodox church. Liturgical use by its founding community would not endanger but enhance preservation, as seen in ancient functioning historical places of worship throughout the world. 

Interfaith Reconciliation and Symbolic Diplomacy

Restoring Hagia Sophia would be a significant act of interfaith goodwill. Such a gesture would defuse deep-rooted animosities between Greece and Türkiye, and pave the way towards building a better future. Furthermore, restoring Hagia Sophia supports religious freedom and minority rights.

Benefits to Turkiye’s International Standing

Türkiye would gain immense cultural prestige by presenting itself as a protector of world heritage and religious freedom beyond nationalist frames. Restoring Hagia Sophia would reduce tensions in the Aegean, open new avenues for diplomacy, and strengthen Türkiye’s negotiating position within NATO, the EU and beyond. A restored Greek Orthodox Hagia Sophia-while welcoming visitors of all backgrounds-would generate new waves of global interest and religious tourism.

Conclusion

Restoring Hagia Sophia to the Greek Orthodox church does not undermine Turkish sovereignty, it exemplifies it. Arguments for repurposing Hagia Sophia as a mosque based on Turkish sovereignty state that because Hagia Sophia lies within Türkiye, it is their prerogative to do whatever they would like. According to that argument, Türkiye could demolish the building in its entirety. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should do it. 

This historic opportunity that restoring Hagia Sophia to its original function as a Greek Orthodox church presents does not undermine Turkish sovereignty, it demonstrates true strength. Failing to restore Hagia Sophia to a Greek Orthodox church is a lost opportunity of enormous magnitude.

Acknowledging the reality that Hagia Sophia was built for the explicit purpose of serving the Greek Orthodox community as a Greek Orthodox church does not erase Ottoman history. Its Ottoman heritage remains historically documented and should be interpreted respectfully. 

Although restoring Hagia Sophia to the Greek Orthodox Church seems politically impossible  in the current political climate, it is the only lasting solution. It would be a transformative diplomatic achievement with long-term strategic benefits that Türkiye cannot ignore.

Hagia Sophia is not simply a monument, it is a civilizational symbol whose identity continues to shape Greek-Turkish relations and global Christian-Muslim dynamics. Restoring it to the Greek Orthodox Church would honor its original purpose, embody principles of heritage ethics, advance interfaith reconciliation, and elevate Türkiye’s international standing.

Such a move is not a concession on behalf of Türkiye, but it is an act of strength. It demonstrates that a modern nation can embrace its multi-layered past by stewarding this great world heritage monument with grace and vision. In doing so, Türkiye would be embracing the full breadth of its Eastern Roman, Ottoman and Republican heritage. It would transform Hagia Sophia from a site of contention into a beacon of peace.

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