Open letter to the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, sent on 22/8/2022 by Association of Greek Archaeologists (SEA) where, according to his announcement today, he asks the international organization to “intervene forcefully in order to reverse the current situation which only poses risks for the world cultural heritage monuments of Hagia Sophia and the Monastery of Chora”. The SEA adds that “in continuation of its previous interventions on the matter, it will address the international scientific community in order to have resolutions and signature texts for the rescue of the monuments”.
“Since 2020 and especially recently, photographic evidence has come to light with ominous prospects for the future of Hagia Sophia”, the SEA points out in his letter, stressing among other things that “archaeological science has been left out of the monument”. At the same time, after pointing out that “in the last few years (2006 onwards) when the Directorate of Religious Affairs took over the management of monuments formerly held by the Archaeological Service of Turkey, many monuments have suffered irreparable damage”, he expresses his concern because “the current During this period, works are also being carried out on another leading Byzantine monument of Constantinople, the former Catholic Church of the Monastery of Chora (Kariye Camii), so that it can also be reactivated as a mosque”.
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Tags: Association Greek Archaeologists Open letter UNESCO Hagia Sophia Monastery Chora
