VOA慢速英语--博物馆还是清真寺?圣索菲亚大教堂身份之争背后

Museum or Mosque¹? Turkey Debates the Hagia Sofia

In its more than 1,400-year existence, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has meant many things to many groups of people.

The building served for centuries as the main religious center for Christians² in the Byzantine Empire. Under Ottoman rule, it was used as an Islamic religious center. Today it serves as a museum. Millions of people visit the famous domed⁴ structure each year. UNESCO -- the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization –- recognizes it as a World Heritage Site.

Now, the 6th-century building is at the center of a heated debate between nationalist, conservative and religious groups. Some people want Hagia Sophia returned to Muslims so they can use it as a mosque. Others want it to remain a museum.

Observers say this debate represents Istanbul's importance as a bridge between continents and cultures.

On July 2, Turkey's Council of State began studying a request by a group seeking to change Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. The group making that request wants to cancel a 1934 decision by the Council of Ministers. That decision turned the historic structure into a museum. At the time, the head of the group was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder⁵ of modern Turkey.

Political viewpoints

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leads a political party that is closely allied⁶ to Islamic groups. He has spoken before about possibly changing Hagia Sophia's status to a mosque.

Some observers say they believe he is using the Hagia Sophia debate to strengthen his support with voters and to draw attention away from Turkey's economic problems.

An expert on Turkey notes that this "is not just a debate about a building."

Soner Cagaptay works for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a research group based in the United States. He also wrote a book called "Erdogan's Empire."

Cagaptay says Ataturk established Hagia Sophia as a museum to create a secular⁷ Turkey. "And nearly 100 years later," he continued, "Erdogan is trying to do the opposite."

Cagaptay said that Erdogan "feels the pressure of popular support" lessening⁹. Cagaptay said he believes the Turkish leader may want to use the debate issue to win back political support. But Cagaptay said that will only bring voters back temporarily.

If Erdogan "does not deliver economic growth," Cagaptay added, he may not be able to win elections as he did in the past.

Religious viewpoints

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is considered the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

In early July, he noted¹⁰ that Hagia Sophia served as a place of worship for Christians for 900 years and for Muslims for 500 years.

He added that as a museum, Hagia Sophia can serve as a place of "peaceful coexistence of peoples and cultures" and a unity¹¹ "between Christianity and Islam."

Islamist groups, however, strongly object to the building's use as a museum. Large crowds gathered outside Hagia Sophia on May 31, the anniversary of the city's capture by Ottoman forces. They prayed and demanded that it be restored as a place of Muslim worship.

U.S. government comments

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged Turkey to keep the famous structure as a museum.

In a statement, he said Hagia Sophia has a rare ability in the modern world: "to serve humanity as a much-needed bridge between those of differing faith traditions and cultures." A change in its status, he added, will lessen⁸ that ability.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

dome³ – n. a large rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball : domed – adj. describes something that has a dome

World Heritage Site – n. a natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognized as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as deserving special protection. Sites are nominated to and designated by the World Heritage Convention (an organization of UNESCO).

status – n. the condition of a person or a thing in the eyes of the law

draw – v. to cause (attention) to be given to someone or something

secular – adj. not religious : of or relating to the physical world and not the spiritual world : of, relating to, or controlled by the government rather than by the church

worship – v. to show respect and love for God or for a god especially by praying, having religious services, etc.

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

4 domed   

adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• I gazed up at the domed ceiling arching overhead. 我抬头凝望着上方弧形的穹顶。
• His forehead domed out in a curve. 他的前额呈弯曲的半球形。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

7 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

8 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

9 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。