Persecution of Christians in Turkey: the destruction of this historic church demonstrates that the contempt for the Christian history and heritage of Asia Minor that we see in the conversion of Hagia Sophia and the Monastery of the Holy Savior in Chora to mosques is not held solely by governing authorities, but by many of the people as well. The general contempt for Christianity and Christians is also manifested in the ongoing denial of property rights and legal identity to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in Turkey, see here.
“Treasure Hunters Destroy Historic Church,” International Christian Concern, October 6, 2020:
10/06/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Turkish treasure hunters have destroyed the historic 19th century Antyeri Camii Orthodox Church located near Samsun. Photos shows portions of the floor removed and gaping holes in the walls, as well as other types of damage. There is an unconfirmed rumor that the authorities may now restore the church for tourism.
The church was converted into a mosque following the forced population exchange of 1923, and it was used as an Islamic place of worship until the 1990s. The church was abandoned after a new mosque was built. Sadly, this is not the first time that this church was been plundered by treasure hunters.
Treasure hunting is a common pursuit in Turkey. They target areas known to have once housed large populations of Christians, thanks to a cultural belief that Christians are wealthy. Today, these areas are largely empty of Christians because of the Turkish genocide and subsequent forced population exchange with Greece. The churches whose congregations have disappeared are frequently plundered by treasure hunters, and neglected by the state….
