Church architecture

Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Museum remained Turkey's most visited tourist attraction in 2019, according to data released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. (Alamy Photo)

Paris authorities will begin the delicate task of removing scaffolding from the collapsed spire of Notre-Dame cathedral in coming weeks after a devastating fire in April, a charity said June 24.

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild the medieval cathedral of Notre-Dame after a major fire partially destroyed the Paris landmark.

Firefighters managed to save the 850-year-old Gothic building's main stone structure, including its two towers, but the spire and roof collapsed.

The fire was declared under control almost nine hours after it started.

A raging fire that tore through Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris was under control early on April 16 after the blaze brought its towering spire and roof crashing to the ground, wiping out centuries of priceless heritage central to French culture and history.

The Greek website ekathimerini.com is reporting this, citing unnamed sources with the UN organization.

UNESCO sources cited by Greek media on Wednesday said that changing Istanbul-based Hagia Sophia's World Heritage Site status would require approval by the Paris-based organization.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday again suggested turning Hagia Sophia, originally a Byzantine Christian cathedral, into a mosque.

The Greek government voiced opposition Monday to the suggestion from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Istanbul's Hagia Sophia — a Byzantine-era cathedral that now serves as a museum — could be reconverted into a mosque.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will on Wednesday visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

The visit, which takes place on the second day of Tsipras's trip to Turkey, is scheduled to take place at 9.15 a.m.

Built in the 6th century under order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia - a UNESCO world heritage site - was once Christendom's greatest cathedral.

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) voiced his hope on Sunday that, three years from now, the mosaic painting of the People's Salvation Cathedral be sanctified, whose Altar was consecrated in the presence of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra and members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The İznik Hagia Sophia Mosque (Orhan Mosque), a church that was converted into a mosque after Orhan Gazi conquered İznik in 1331, is wooing visitors with its historical importance and spiritual atmosphere.