By this time, I am sure the presents are wrapped, the menu for tomorrow set and prepped and you are relaxing with a glass of wine as I am! So, I'll just leave you with a lot of happy wishes, good cheer and few photos....
View of the Blue Mosque taken from inside the Aya Sophia. They look across at each other. It is a stunning sight at dusk
Photos in this post are from Turkey (taken on my phone). I chose them for a reason for Christmas. Everybody knows it has been an Islamic country since the Ottoman Empire but Christianity predates Islam here and vestiges of its Byzantine past blaze across the country in a stunning collage.
The infamous Hagya Sophia was a stunning cathedral before being washed over to become a mosque. Well in the middle of the country are traces of Christianity buried amidst caves of tribes of tester years, beautiful frescoes painted in vibrant colors that are a complete contrast to the surrounding region.
Entrance to one of the seven chapels carved into the rock during the early Cappadocian times. This dates back to as early as 3rd century. Inside Goreme Open Air Museum.
The original mosaic work that adorned the cathedral that once was Aya Sophia being recovered underneath the plaster that was laid over when it was converted to a mosque in the Ottoman times.
The stunning fresco of Christ inside a carved chapel within the Goreme Museum. I was amazed at how perfectly arched the structure within the hill was and how vibrant the colors of the frescoes that has withstood at least 2000 years!
At this time as we celebrate, I send out a hope for peace, love and togetherness despite our differences. For irrespective of the religion we practice we are united in faith beyond the human understanding yet grounded by very human joys and fallacies.
Here is wishing you all a wonderful time with those you love and cherish this Holiday season!
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