Italy, 21 September 2024. Presentation of the Volume “Hagia Sophia. The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the world” in Benevento.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the presentation of the Italian edition of the IAO Volume entitled “Hagia Sophia – The Churches of the Wisdom of God around the world” was held in Benevento, Italy, where there is a historic and exquisite Church dedicated to the wisdom of God.
Greetings at the event, which took place at the “Vittorio Emanuele” Municipal Theater, were addressed by the Archbishop of Benevento, Metropolitan Felice Accrocca, Bishop Georgios of Krateia, representative of Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the deputy mayor of city of Benevento Mr. Giovanni Zanone.
The presentation of the Volume was made by professor of Ecclesiastical History at the Pontifical Theological School “San Tommasso d’Aquino” in Naples, mons. Mr. Mario Iadanza, and Professor of Private Law at the University of Sannio and Cultural Advisor of Benevento, Ms. Antonella Tartaglia Policini. The event was coordinated by the IAO liaison with the Catholic Institutions Mr. Virgilio Avato, while the IAO advisor Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, presented the goals and activities of the Organization.
The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Member of the Hellenic Parliament Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, emphasized in his speech: “If Europe renounces its Christian roots, it will become unrecognizable!” It will cease to be Europe! Therefore, our struggle for the protection of Hagia Sophia is also an attempt to wake up Europe before it is too late.”
In addition, he noted that “we are determined to continue this campaign for the protection of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople) not only because this unique monument is a world cultural heritage and as such should be respected by Turkey in whose territory it is today. We persist for one more reason. Because Hagia Sophia, as the universal seat of the united Christianity of the first millennium, is also a universal symbol of the Christian values shared by all Christians, regardless of denomination.”
At the end of the event, the head of the IAO, together with the MPs-members of the IAO delegation, Mr. Ioannis Sarakiotis from Greece and Panikos Leonidou from Cyprus, awarded the two speakers, as well as the architect Mr. Nicola Mucci, who wrote the text about the city’s magnificent Church dedicated to the Wisdom of God.
Before the event, the IAO delegation had the opportunity to visit the historic Church of Hagia Sophia of Benevento, which was built in the 8th century, and is one of the seven protected monuments in the official UNESCO list entitled “The Lombards in Italy”.
The presentation of the Volume was preceded by a visit of the IAO delegation to the headquarters of the Archbishop of Benevento, Felice Accrocca. During the meeting, the IAO Secretary General emphasized that “Hagia Sophia is a matter that concerns all Christians. When it was founded in the 6th century by Justinian, we were all united Christians; it is a design before the schism, a symbol of united Christendom. It is not only a concern of each Christian, it is a concern of every civilized citizen, because it is a monument of global cultural heritage, as recognized by UNESCO”.
Metropolitan-Archbishop of Benevento stated that “the interactions between the Greek culture and the culture of Benevento are alive. It is appropriate that some influences of the Byzantine tradition are evident.” The IAO delegation was guided to the Episcopal Museum in the lower part of the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, which consists of two parts: the archaeological route, which starts from the Roman era and ends up to the bombing of the Church in 1943 by the allied forces, and the pseudocrypt, where early medieval frescoes are preserved.
The IAO delegation had a meeting with the Mayor of Benevento, and former Minister of Justice, Mr. Clemente Mastella. During the meeting, the IAO Secretary General noted that “we aspire to create a cultural route, following the model of the “steps of Saint Paul”, between the cities that host historical churches of Hagia Sophia. This network will undoubtedly include Benevento. The promotion of this initiative, among others, will enhance religious and historical tourism.”
