/ world today news/ The euphoria surrounding the celebrations in connection with the completion of the 6-7 year long renovation of the Bulgarian church “St. Stephen” in Istanbul, known as the iron church, reached its peak on Midsummer’s Day, January 7.
For days, our society was warmed up with information about the upcoming event, the history of the construction of the church itself, but without mentioning those facts that are either not known, or were judged to be inexpedient for the occasion, but the emphasis, as usual, was on the presence and the talks between Turkish President Erdogan and our Prime Minister. They address each other as “friend” and Tayyip, and not since yesterday. The opening itself, somewhat coincidentally, coincides with the beginning of our presidency of the Council of Europe, and among other things, with the new foreign policy tactic launched in Turkey to normalize relations with the leading EU countries such as France and Germany. Ankara sent enough signals in this direction, and not only by releasing detained foreign journalists (accused of links with terrorists or supporters of FETO, which is considered the organizer of the July 15 coup attempt) or by concluding military deals with France and Italy region, but also by organizing official visits to Paris / of Erdoğan/ and to Germany / of Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu/.
Against the background of frosty relations with Washington, Erdogan cannot help but apply his old practice of turning the rudder in the opposite direction to prevent his country from becoming truly isolated from all important countries. His visit to the opening of the Bulgarian church in Istanbul, renovated by Turkish specialists and with Turkish funds, was part of a strategy to demonstrate the so-called European values for which the coexistence of different religions and ethnic communities is an unavoidable principle. In the speech of the Turkish president, we even heard about “unity of diversity” and “peaceful coexistence, for which unification is necessary”, words that we are used to hearing mostly from Brussels. Until yesterday, thousands of Turks chanted slogans around St. Sophia, the largest temple not only in Constantinople, which was converted into a mosque after the capture of the city by the Ottomans, but today it is announced that the Byzantine icons miraculously left after pogroms. For decades, Christian churches, mostly Armenian, have been locked, in ruins or left to their fate, but now Erdogan informed the assembled dignitaries that 14 churches across Turkey have been restored, and “the iron church is the finale of this work.” Well, more than 80,000 mosques were built, and women started to shave their beards again en masse, but these are the internal affairs of our big neighbor.
To restore the splendor of “St. Stephen” is a God-pleasing deed, but to hear from a Bulgarian journalist, who traditionally accompanies our official delegations abroad, that Bulgaria is not able to financially afford such a repair and therefore the role of Turkey is irreplaceable is infinitely sad. After all, there is no free lunch, it is known. There is no way not to get a new dose of negativity in the Bulgarian souls, but we know that we are swimming in pessimism because we have been robbed of our chances for the future /according to Golda Meir/ and that is why we miss past your ears every self-inflicted inferiority complex. And in fact, in the speech of the Turkish president, there were words not only about the role of Turkey and about “everyone must be free to practice his religion and we must guarantee his freedom”, but also about “a common culture with the Bulgarian people”, about ” common history” and about “with this cooperation we hope to restore the historical and religious monuments in Bulgaria”. Which monuments, how many, who contracted them and when, for what are serious financial costs incurred by a foreign country, and who will pay the bill in the end? A national account, directly related to history, which, according to Erdogan, may have “bad memories”, but they “should not cast a shadow on the hope and the possibility of peaceful coexistence”. Every word of both President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Yıldırım at this solemn re-opening of “St. Stephen” was not only measured, not only was it a “message to the international community”, but in practice it purposefully targeted interests that we thought, who knows why , that they remained only on the pages of “Strategic Depth”. Turkish diplomacy and leaders once again proved to us that they have centuries-old traditions and an undeniable level of experience to be envied. The signals in these speeches are enough and there is no need to read between the lines. It is good that Patriarch Neofit was at that height in his words, that self-confidence in the style of “we have also given something to the world” warms Bulgarian hearts. Briefly, clearly, with the necessary signal addresses, the Bulgarian patriarch proved that he is more than equal in an environment that is benevolent rather in words than in deeds. There is no need to curse our souls, the problems are known, the history, near and far, is eloquent. For those who know her and have followed events and actions. Both to the Turkish rulers, whoever they are, and to Bartholomew. The important thing is to diplomatically show that we are aware, even though we are “small but great” in the words of our prime minister. At least he understood what was being asked of him. The question is, will his efforts be enough? Because really, despite our presidency, Europe has already had its say on Ankara’s demands. What French President Macron stated after his meeting with Erdogan a few days ago is enough information in this direction. Ideas for constructive dialogue and cooperation with Turkey are supported, but in the form of a Turkish “Brexit”, will they satisfy Ankara? She placed only Turkish and Greater Istanbul Municipality flags around St. Stephen, but otherwise congratulated us on the “Iron Church” without mentioning that it is Bulgarian. He boasted that they had returned the properties, but the list was much longer than those returned. Moreover, there are so many disputes and intrigues around them that our small community in Istanbul will not be able to resist the various policies and interests, including personal ones. Moreover, the children of this community, no matter how many, do not know Bulgarian. And in our church at the Exarchate, Sisli district in Istanbul, visitors on Orthodox holidays and weekends are mainly from Moldova, Ukraine, Bessarabia and even Russians. It’s okay, we’re our own people, but don’t we also have interests and people there? Nothing that they say about the Turkish president “our president” and about Turkey “our country”, which they thank from the bottom of their hearts. Have these people of ours in Istanbul preserved the church paraphernalia that were in St. Stephen’s Church before it was locked for a long time awaiting restoration? Most of them were from Bulgarians from the old ethnic borders of Bulgaria – Vardar Macedonia and Aegean Macedonia and they stood by the inscriptions and messages.
Now the church shines, but it is empty. And the grand opening of the restored “St. Stefan” was glamorous, but there remains a feeling of dissatisfaction that our PR-action remained in the shadow of the Turkish one. Because Turkey is already in an election campaign period, as the media there write, and the battle for more supporters is underway. What a more convenient way to demonstrate a policy that will appeal to secular-oriented Turks, and show the world how advanced Turkey is with democracy. He thinks about all religions, takes care of “the objects that are a Turkish responsibility to future generations” and is “willing to share his experience in terms of restoration and other projects”, but not only in Bulgaria, but also in the Balkans. But he does not fail to criticize the “lack of tolerance” regarding the Islamic religion, which was mainly raised as a problem in Prime Minister Yildirim’s speech at St. Stephen’s. A political speech, no doubt. With clear messages. Whoever understands wins.
Guidelines are provided. Analyzes follow, if there is someone to do them.
#Stephen #Istanbul
