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Our Lady is Never Truly Hidden

We had the distinct privilege of taking a walking tour of the ancient city of Istanbul, Turkey, on our first full day of pilgrimage. We learned about the rich historical significance of many landmarks throughout Istanbul. We also had the opportunity to celebrate Mass at St. Anthony’s Church run by Conventual Franciscans (the same Franciscans as those who live and minister at the National Shrine of Maximillian Kolbe), a tiny pocket of the local Church of Istanbul among a predominantly Muslim population. 

The 2024 pilgrimage group on their walking tour of Istanbul.

Amidst all the interesting landmarks, the most striking place we visited was the beautiful Hagia Sophia. Meaning “Holy Wisdom,” this structure is a magnificent building that was once a great Catholic Church. It has since been converted into a Mosque in predominantly Muslim Istanbul, the second floor of which is a museum of sorts, as the first floor is dedicated exclusively to prayer toward Meca. From the second floor, we could see the magnificent architecture, which baffles the mind to realize that such a beautiful and elaborate structure was able to be built so long ago. Most striking, though, was to see the remnants of the once-Christian space. When the Church was converted into a Mosque following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Christian symbols were covered over by plaster as Muslims do not allow depictions of the human face to be displayed in their place of worship, seeing it as a form of idolatry. Now, for the sake of the museum, some of these original mosaics have slowly been uncovered and restored. This, for me, was the most moving part of visiting the Hagia Sophia. In what would have been the apse of the church, there is an image of Our Lady with the Child Jesus. 

The image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus in the apse of the Hagia Sophia.

Because it is visible from the prayer space of the Mosque it is covered by sheets. However, it can be viewed from the second floor. My heart was saddened, thinking about Our Lady being hidden from our eyes and thinking longingly about how beautiful it must have been to hear the prayers, songs, and chants of the early church as they worshiped in that space, sounds that may never be heard again in the Hagia Sophia. Nonetheless, despite the sadness that I, and I imagine my classmates and fellow Christian visitors, felt in that space, the watchful and loving eyes of our Lady still watch over it – perhaps remaining to bless Her Children who still come to visit the place in which Her Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus, was once worshipped. I was struck by thinking that this reality is always present in our spiritual lives. Despite how barren or desolate our situation might seem, does Our Lady not always remain to guide us under her loving mantle back to Her Son, Jesus? As we keep all of you who are following our journey in our prayers, please pray that my classmates and I will always remember Mary, Our Lady of Wisdom and the Queen of Apostles, is walking alongside us as we continue our pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul. Mary, please show us your Son in all our experiences.

-Joshua Krischel, Archdiocese of Dubuque

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