Istanbul
Terror attack strikes Istanbul Catholic church known for its welcome
By David I. Klein — January 29, 2024
ISTANBUL (RNS) — Two gunmen shot and killed a member of a minority Muslim sect who was among a diverse congregation. Though Sunday’s attack came as a shock to many of Istanbul's Catholics, it's not without precedent.
2 masked men kill a person in attack on Catholic church in Istanbul. Officials detain 2 ISIS members
By Mehmet Guzel — January 29, 2024
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish authorities instituted a media ban on coverage of the attack.
Flooded with sightseers, Europe’s iconic churches struggle to accommodate both worship and tourism
By Giovanna Dell'orto — July 21, 2023
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic records in Barcelona and across southern Europe, iconic sacred sites are struggling to accommodate the faithful who come to pray and the millions of visitors who often pay to view the art and architecture.
Half a century since its closure, Turkey’s Orthodox Christians still pine for their seminary
By David I. Klein — December 14, 2021
(RNS) — The Halki seminary, whose graduates include at least two saints, seven patriarchs, seven archbishops and six metropolitans, has become an international bargaining chip.
Émigré Russian Orthodox inch toward a return to Moscow Patriarchate
By Tom Heneghan — September 10, 2019
PARIS (RNS) — A decision seemed to be made, but as with most émigré politics and disputes among Eastern Orthodox churches, it got complicated.
Pope says terrorism casts bloodstain over world, condemns Istanbul attack
By Lauren Markoe — January 1, 2017
(REUTERS) Speaking in St. Peter's Square for his traditional noon address, Francis departed from his prepared text to condemn the Istanbul nightclub attack that killed at least 39 people.
Shy Russian student a suspect in Istanbul attack
By RNS staff — July 12, 2016
IKON-KHALK, Russia -- When Rahim Bulgarov graduated from college in southern Russia with a diploma in tourism, his teacher expected him to go on to further study, or fulfill his dream of opening a car repair shop.
Greece and Turkey spar over Ramadan prayers at Hagia Sophia
By Lauren Markoe — June 14, 2016
(RNS) The beloved Hagia Sophia is not officially a mosque or a church. Now some Christians are afraid that its secular status is changing.
Turkey plans to establish an Islamic university with a broader Muslim curriculum
By Michael Kaplan — December 23, 2014
ISTANBUL (RNS) Political unrest continues to sweep Egypt and Syria, once hubs for Islamic learning, and more students are turned off by Saudi Arabia’s more literalist interpretation of Islam. This gives Turkey an opening.
Sounds of Protest: Les Miserables, Gezi Park, and the Power of Music
By Omid Safi — June 18, 2013
Ultimately that’s what so amazing about music at Gezi park. It’s not about the notes. It’s not about the words, or the melodies. It’s ultimately about us, all of us. It's about the power of music to unite all of us. It's about this new global generation of humanity who care about the well-being of one another beyond the narrow confines of nationality, race, creed, or class, that give us hope. They give us hope that they will be able to sing together, make music together, make love together, and make of this old world, a new world.
Gezi Park is not (just) about what you think
By Omid Safi — June 12, 2013
For many of the activists in Gezi Park, they are saying it as loudly and clearly as they can: The issue is not Islamism, it’s neo-liberal capitalism.
So why are we so unwilling to hear that critique? Because it would force us to confront our own demons of economic injustice.
Praying for a just peace in Turkey
By Omid Safi — June 1, 2013
What began as an environmental protest now has expanded to something bigger. There are protests in many cities, and the police has responded with disproportionate brutality.
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