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Historic Orthodox Church to be demolished, not restored in Turkey.

Orthodox Church of Saint Nicolas.

The decision to demolish a 232-year-old Orthodox Church in the Bodrum district of the western province of Muğla (Turkey) has surprised locals who had been expecting it to be restored, daily Radikal reported today.

Locals had applied to restore the Saint Nicolas (Aya Nikolaya) church, however the Bodrum municipality decided to demolish it instead, according to a claim by Pamukkale University that declared the church building rotten.

The decision was signed by Dursun Göktepe of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), who was substituting for Mayor Mehmet Kocadon while the latter was in prison on allegations of corruption. However, Kocadon was against the demolition and has announced that he will launch an investigation into the decision.

Since 1965, the Saint Nicolas Church had been used as a storage site, cinema, theater and boat shed.

Source: Hurriyet Dailynews.com

 

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Patriarch Bartholomeos celebrates Ramadan with an Iftar meal and Whirling Dervishes.

Patriarch Bartholomeos celebrated Ramadan* at the Beyoğlu district of Constantinople at the same table with the leaders of the Armenian, Greek, Jewish and Syrian community in Turkey.

Among them the Mufti of Constantinople Mustafa Çağrıcı, Turkey’s Chief Rabbi Isaac Caleb and more.

Patriarch Bartholomeos celebrates Ramadan with an Iftar meal and Whirling Dervishes.

Community leaders met in Mevlevihane (Smoking House of Mevlevi) of Galata and gave messages of unity and rallying.

Patriarch Bartholomeos the Mufti of Constantinople Mustafa Çağrıcı, Turkey’s Chief Rabbi Isaac Caleb and more.

Before the Iftar** dinner guests had the “opportunity” to watch the ritual dance of rotating Dervishes (Islamic Sema, religious-worshiping ceremony dance).

  

*Islamic fasting holiday.

**Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan. It is done at the evening meal when Muslims break their fast.

  

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