Feast of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon & Comp (20 Sept)

Today, September 20, my travel companions and I leave for our
European trip.  I will be away until October 7, and will then, October 8th,
resume these daily messages, God willing.

One of the places we plan to visit is the magnificent building in the city of Istanbul called Hagia Sophia, which means “Holy Wisdom.”  It was built in the
6th century when the city was called Constantinople and was Roman Catholic.  It was the greatest church in the world.  Later, that part of the world went into
schism and the beautiful building became a Greek Orthodox church.  Later still, Constantinople was captured by Islam; that same beautiful building became a
Muslim mosque and the name of the city was changed to Istanbul.  Furthermore, the city was incorporated into the nation of Turkey, just across the water.
Now, Hagia Sophia has been taken over by the secular government of Turkey and Hagia Sophia is a museum.  I will pray for youthere and in the other sacred places we visit.  I ask your prayers for us, too, that our trip will be a safe one.   Thank you for seeking God’s truth.  God bless you.
Father Victor Brown, O.P.