East Sarajevo and Banja Luka, 7 November 2024. Presentation of the volume “Hagia Sophia. The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the world”

In the framework of the meeting of the IAO International Secretariat in Sarajevo, a presentation of the Volume “Hagia Sophia: The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the world” was held at the Cultural Center Matična biblioteka in East Sarajevo. In the filled to capacity event hall, apart from the head of the IAO, the MP Mr. Aleksandar Cotric and the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo, Professor Vladan Bartula, presented speeces. The IAO Secretary General in his introduction said that “wars, the use of force, the imposition of force over law, continue to infect our world. The people of this country know this very well, having experienced the sad events in the 1990s. Today, as we all understand, war has once again entered our daily vocabulary. In neighboring Ukraine on the Balkan Peninsula, the military conflicts, with tens of thousands of victims and millions of refugees, are approaching 3 years. But also in the nearby Middle East, where more than a year since the start of the military operations, the devastation is beyond description, while the risk of the spread of the war is always present.”

Finally, the IAO Secretary General during his speech on Hagia Sophia, pointed out that “the increasing daily attendance of faithful Muslims, in large numbers, fatally burdens the stability of the Church, and causes various damages, which are impossible to control and limit. Scientists are talking about a process that, if continued, could have irreversible consequences.

This anxiety was also the trigger for us at the IAO to enlighten international public opinion and international actors about the dangers Hagia Sophia is facing. So that we can all pressure for a change in the decision of the Turkish leadership”.

Later the same day, the Greek delegation led by the IAO Secretary General, the Cypriot delegation and the Serbian delegation left for Banja Luka. In a hall of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia in Banja Luka, a presentation of the Volume “Hagia Sophia – The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the world” was held.

The head of the IAO, during his speech at the event, emphasized that “with the volume at hand we have already traveled thousands of miles, presenting it in many state capitals and large cities in Europe and the USA. We know the difficulties of achieving success for our initiative. However, we know at the same time that this initiative is based on law and truth. That is why we believe that ultimately with the help of our like-minded people from all over the world we will achieve our goal. I am sure that our Orthodox brothers in Banja Luka and in the entire Republika Srpska will actively support us in this struggle.” Speakers at the event, which was attended by many parliamentarians, representatives of the Church and the academic community, were also professor Dr. Milijana Okili and associate professor Dr. Oleg Soldat, while the vice-president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Petko Rankic, and the deputy of the Parliament of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Cotric, presented greeting addresses.