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Russia’s Move to Build Copy of Hagia Sophia in Syria Stirs Debate

Russian officers and pro-regime forces in Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside.
Russian officers and pro-regime forces in Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside.
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Russia’s Move to Build Copy of Hagia Sophia in Syria Stirs Debate

Russian officers and pro-regime forces in Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside.
Russian officers and pro-regime forces in Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside.

Russia’s support for the building of a church, named Hagia Sophia, in Syria’s central Hama countryside has prompted debate among Syrian activists.

The naming of the church was seen as Moscow’s response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to convert the iconic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul back to a mosque.

Pro-regime social media users and media posted photos of the laying of the foundation stone of the church in al-Suqaylabiyah city. The move was backed by the Russian Duma and the event saw the participation of members of the Russian Duma and local national defense forces. The construction was proposed by Nabel al-Abdullah, leader of the pro-regime national defense forces.

Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov said Russian Orthodox Christians can help Syria in building a copy of the original Hagia Sophia, adding: “Contrary to Turkey, Syria is clearly demonstrating the ability to hold peaceful dialogue.”

He added that Syrian president Bashar Assad had never converted a place of worship of one religion to a place of worship of another.

Sources close to Damascus told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Russians were boosting their relations with Syria’s Christians for economic and political motives as they enjoy good ties with Christian businessmen.

They added that regime loyalists along the Syrian coast have “warily” been monitoring the developments in Suqaylabiyah as they are “worried that Russia would strengthen its relations with Christians at their expense.”

Church sources in Hama told Asharq Al-Awsat that this was not the first time a Russian delegation visits Suqaylabiyah and other Christian towns in the province. Previous visits saw Russian officials meet with Orthodox clerics.

Russia’s interest in Syria’s Christians, especially the Orthodox sect, stems from the Russian church’s belief that it is carrying on the legacy of the Byzantine church that is based in Constantinople, now Istanbul, they continued.

Abdullah said the founding of the Hagia Sophia church in Suqaylabiyah “is a reminder that a spiritual landmark cannot be erased by a fanatic and murderer.”

“The dream of Ottomanization still fascinates some minds,” he added in an indirect reference to Erdogan.

He said the church will be built on his own private property and funded by him personally. He added that his idea received the blessing of the Patriarch of Antioch.

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Arab World

No Safe Zones in Lebanon as Fears Grip Host Communities

Displaced children from southern Lebanon at the Azarieh Building in central Beirut. (AFP)
Displaced children from southern Lebanon at the Azarieh Building in central Beirut. (AFP)
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No Safe Zones in Lebanon as Fears Grip Host Communities

Displaced children from southern Lebanon at the Azarieh Building in central Beirut. (AFP)
Displaced children from southern Lebanon at the Azarieh Building in central Beirut. (AFP)

No area in Lebanon is safe anymore. Every region is now a potential target for Israel, which has carried out strikes across the country.

The latest strike hit a building in Aito, in the Zgharta region in northern Lebanon, where people displaced from Aitaroun in the south were sheltering.

It killed 23 people and injured others. Earlier strikes targeted Maysrah in Keserwan, killing 17 and injuring 21, along with attacks in Beirut’s Noueiri area and several towns in Iqlim al-Kharroub and the Chouf, which caused further casualties.

Israel claims these strikes, outside Hezbollah’s usual strongholds like Beirut’s southern suburbs, the eastern Bekaa region, and the south, were targeting Hezbollah members.

This has left residents of remote host communities, where displaced people have fled, afraid. Many fear that Hezbollah members among the displaced could make their towns targets, as it’s becoming harder to tell civilian from military targets.

In response, tensions are rising in some areas, with certain individuals asked to leave due to their ties to Hezbollah.

Political parties and local authorities are working to prevent conflict, fearing Israel might exploit these tensions to turn host communities against the displaced, increasing pressure on Hezbollah.

Local parties are in touch with Hezbollah, asking them to remove individuals who might pose a risk to the communities. But this is proving difficult due to Hezbollah’s state of disarray after Israel assassinated its top leaders.

While residents fear becoming Israeli targets, they’re also committed to protecting the displaced. Yet concerns are growing about Hezbollah members among them, especially after the Israeli strike on Aito in Zgharta.

Mount Lebanon, the north, and Beirut host the largest number of displaced people—over 1.2 million. The mainly Druze Progressive Socialist Party has taken action in the Chouf, where it holds influence.

MP Bilal Abdullah called for protecting both displaced people and locals, urging Hezbollah members not to visit crowded areas. Municipalities in Iqlim al-Kharroub, where several towns were hit, have made similar appeals.

Abdullah also mentioned ongoing coordination with security agencies and Hezbollah to keep fighters and officials away from areas with displaced people. He noted the difficulty of this, given Hezbollah’s current disarray.

He hopes the efforts will bring positive results, especially in Iqlim al-Kharroub, where over 120,000 displaced people are now sheltering.

The biggest issue, he said, is rented homes, which municipalities are monitoring, while security forces are responsible for official shelters.