Entering heaven alive

Since the October 7 attacks and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, no part of life in the region has been left untouched - least of all, the three great religions whose histories are rooted there.

While Israeli Jews struggle to celebrate holidays or even find common ground with one another, Palestinian Muslims and Christians are struggling to reach their holy sites at all.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz emphasized the need for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to be held accountable for human rights violations and massacres in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.

Yılmaz attended the 50th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Muslim worshippers walk at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 5, 2024.

The spokesman for Türkiye's Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik on Monday condemned remarks made by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir about constructing a synagogue at the al-Aqsa Mosque site.

Çelik described these comments as "vile and cursed," asserting they are an attack on all Muslims and humanity.

Across the world today, the faithful gather in reverence to celebrate both Hellenism and Christianity. We commemorate the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, who has peacefully fallen asleep and ascended to heaven.

A far-right Israeli minister drew condemnation from Türkiye and the global community on Tuesday by praying with thousands of Jews at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem, defying a ban on Jewish prayer at the flashpoint site.

The storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by hundreds of radical Israelis, including ministers, will "further escalate tensions" in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Following a decision by Turkish authorities, permission for the Divine Liturgy at Panagia Soumela was granted this year for Friday, August 23, on the feast day of the Nine Days of the Virgin Mary, rather than on August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, as had been the case in recent years.

Türkiye on Friday slammed Israel's recent attacks on journalists, underlining their commitment to supporting media professionals reporting on the Palestinian plight.

"We wish a speedy recovery to the TRT News cameraman who was injured in occupiers' attack, and we extend our get-well wishes to the TRT family," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

Today, the Orthodox world observes the great feast of the Lord - the Ascension of Christ. Bulgarian Christians refer to this holiday as Spasovden, signifying the completion of Christ's work of salvation for humanity through his ascension.