According to the Turkish channel report, the holy emblem was either stolen or lost.
Another incident vandalism of Hagia Sophia it was made public by the Turkish television station ATV. The station’s news bulletin featured a report entitled: “Historical emblem lost. Where is the emblem that was on the Imperial Gate of Hagia Sophia?’
In fact, it is stated that “the Hagia Sophia once again he became the target of reckless individuals. In the past they destroyed the Imperial Gate, the walls and the marbles. And now one of the emblems of the Imperial Gate of Hagia Sophia has been lost.”
A citizen who spoke on camera stated that “what is happening in Hagia Sophia is sad. They will probably never end….”, with the report adding “First the Imperial Gate, then the walls, and now…”.
“Each point of Hagia Sophia is sacred, therefore, based on this perception, the emblem is considered sacred and they can take it home,” the citizen emphasized.
According to the report, this sacred emblem was either stolen or lost, however, according to a citizen, similar incidents have occurred in the past. “In the past they “ate” the door of the Imperial Gate. They then broke open the tank and placed shoes inside. They broke the marbles of Hagia Sophia. They scratched the walls. We can list many more facts,” he said.
“At one of the most important points of the entrance of the Hagia Sophia mosque – which has a history of 1500 years – there are many (inlaid) emblems on this historic Gate. One of these emblems has been missing for a month and a half,” the report says.
It is noted that, as mentioned by a citizen, “this gate is one of the nine gates located in the inner narthex. Right next to the Imperial Gate, that’s why it’s important. Although there are dozens of security men, the fate of the emblem is not known. And historians are reacting to this issue… Because every part of Hagia Sophia is sacred, people want to take pieces of it home.”
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