Greece accuses Turkey of desecrating historic monastery with disco dance
TRABZON, Turkey – The Greek Foreign Ministry said that images showing a group of young people dancing to electronic music in the former Orthodox Christian monastery of Sumela in Turkey are “offensive” and a “desecration” of the archaeological site.
This is the latest development in a new dispute between Ankara and Athens regarding worship and religious freedom.
The ministry called on the Turkish authorities to “make every effort to prevent the recurrence of such acts” and to respect the site, which has been nominated for inclusion in the list of World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“Recent photos circulated on social media of what appears to be a foreign band dancing a disco in the historic area of the Panagia Sumela monastery is considered a desecration of the teacher,” she added.
Sumela Monastery, founded in the 4th century, was a monastic complex built on a cliff high above the forested area overlooking the Black Sea in eastern Turkey. It was stripped of its official religious status long ago, and currently operates as a museum run by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.
The issues of religious minorities are considered a major obstacle in the path of Turkish-Greek relations, especially after the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul (a former church) into a mosque in July 2020 on the orders of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the judiciary in his country.
Statement by @GreeceMFA regarding the desecration of the historical Panagia Soumela Monastery: “These images are offensive and add to a series of actions by Turkish authorities against World Heritage Sites”. https://t.co/iipHgPrnA8
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) February 7, 2022