Persecution of Christians in Turkey: the destruction of this historic church demonstrates that the contempt for the Christian history and heritage of Asia Minor that we see in the conversion of Hagia Sophia and the Monastery of the Holy Savior in Chora to mosques is not held solely by governing authorities, but by many of the people as well. The general contempt for Christianity and Christians is also manifested in the ongoing denial of property rights and legal identity to the Ecumenical Patriarchate…