Erdoğan received Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Giannopoulos and his accompanying delegation at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Office yesterday. Giannopoulos presented President Erdoğan with a painting depicting the deed presented by Caliph Omar to Patriarch Sophronios, who ruled Jerusalem on behalf of the Byzantine Empire following its conquest.

Jerusalem, which is important because Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first qibla of Muslims and because the Prophet Muhammad went to Al-Aqsa for the Isra and Miraj events, was besieged by Islamic armies in 638.

Although the Christians attempted to defend the city, a peace request was made when reinforcements were learned of their arrival. Patriarch Sophronios stipulated that Caliph Omar personally come and take possession of the city in order to surrender it.

After consultations, Caliph Omar accepted this condition and set out with a small convoy. Arriving in Jerusalem, a place sacred to the three Abrahamic religions, Caliph Omar performed Friday prayers and handed out two letters of trust: one for all Jerusalemites and one for Christians.

The letter of trust given to Christians by Hazrat Omar reads,"Praise be to Allah that He has honored us with Islam and honored us with faith. He has blessed us with His Prophet Muhammad and guided us from misguidance to the right path. After the divisions among us, He has brought us together and united our hearts. He has given us victory over our enemies and granted us these lands. He has made us brothers who love one another. O servants of Allah, praise Allah for these blessings. This is the written covenant that Omar ibn al-Khattab gave to Sophronios, the honorable patriarch of the Christian community, at Tur-i Zeytun in Jerusalem, and was drawn up to include all the subjects, priests, and patriarchs."

The first article of the trust stated that all priests, no matter where they were or under what conditions, had security from Muslims, that the trusts of all non-Muslims would be valid as long as they complied with the provisions of the trust contract, that believers and those who would come after them were obligated to protect them, and that this situation would continue on the condition that Christians continued their obedience and loyalty.

In the document, it is emphasized that the promise of protection and security given applies to Christians as well as to churches, monasteries, and all sacred places of pilgrimage, both inside and outside. It is emphasized that these places include the Kumame Church, the Great Church in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and the cave with three doors opening to the qibla, north, and west.

The following expressions were used in the escrow:

The Christian communities other than those in Jerusalem, that is, the Abyssinian Christians, those visiting from Europe, the Copts, Assyrians, Armenians, Jacobites, Maronites, and similar groups, are completely subject to the aforementioned Patriarch, and the Patriarch is presented to them. For the Prophet Muhammad has granted protection to these patriarchs and priests with his blessed seal and has requested their protection. We believers will treat them well out of respect for the Prophet who treated them well. These patriarchs and priests will be exempt from jizya and similar obligations, both at sea and on land. Nothing will be taken from them for entering the Kumame Church and other holy places. However, visitors to the Kumame Church, which is in Christian hands, will pay the Patriarch one dinar and one-third dirham.

It was stated in the edict that all believers, male and female, sultan, judge or governor, rich or poor, must protect these orders, that this edict was given to the Christian leaders in the presence of the honorable companions Abdullah, Osman bin Affan, Sa'd bin Zeyd, Abdurrahman bin Avf and other companions, and that the orders explained in this edict must be protected and obeyed.

The last article of the Emanname states,"Whoever among the believers reads this decree of ours and opposes it, now or until the Day of Judgment, has broken the covenant of Allah and rebelled against His Beloved."