The recent decision by the Turkish government to reconvert the majestic Hagia Sophia, which was once the world's greatest cathedral, from a museum back to a mosque has been bad news for Christians around the world. They include Pope Francis, who said he was "pained" by the move, and the spiritual leader of Eastern Christianity, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who said he was "saddened and shaken".
When contrasted with the joy of Turkey's conservative Muslims, all this may seem like a new episode in an old story: Islam versus Christianity.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you