The Rotunda is a temple build by Galerius. Now the archpriest of Thessaloniki, says there should be a referendum of what is going to happen to the monument. If it did happen he would lose it, as the people he influences are a minority. Some 16 years ago the Church had their followers sign a petition for a referendum and they could sign at every church for a long time. They themselves said they had three million signatures out of eleven million Greeks. About so many are the Greeks, who believe at Second Coming of Christ. Now they must be less. Rotunda is a monument and it doesn't need extra crosses built. It is a monument under the aegis of UNESCO.
They say it has been for more years a Christian Church than anything else. The State of Greece was created after a Revolution based on the ideas of Enlightment and not as a revival of the Byzantine Empire. Greek newspapers of the time referred to the Ottoman fleet as the 'byzantine'.
Rotunda became a Church after Theodosius felt militarily strong enough to impose it to his subjects. Pagans were still the majority.
The Christians want Rotonda in order to show they have the power in Greece and not the secular people.
They say it has been for more years a Christian Church than anything else. The State of Greece was created after a Revolution based on the ideas of Enlightment and not as a revival of the Byzantine Empire. Greek newspapers of the time referred to the Ottoman fleet as the 'byzantine'.
Rotunda became a Church after Theodosius felt militarily strong enough to impose it to his subjects. Pagans were still the majority.
The Christians want Rotonda in order to show they have the power in Greece and not the secular people.
