CHURCHES OF ISTANBUL
FENER GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE AND ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH
The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and St. George’s Cathedral are located in the Fener area, on the shore of Halic (the Golden Horn).
The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which has been the heart of Orthodoxy since the 6th century, is linked with St. George’s Church. The church, which was built in 1836 and was damaged by fire in 1941, was restored and reopened to the public in 1991. Many valuable items can be found in the Church of St. George.
Address: Yavuz Sultan Selim, Dr. Sadik Ahmet Cad. No:44, 34083 Fatih/Istanbul
Phone: +90 212 531 96 70
The church can be visited every day between 08.30 – 16.00 except the Sunday church service held on Sundays between 09.15 – 12.20.
ALL SAINTS CHURCH
The church, also known as the Presbyterian Church in Istanbul, was completed in 1878 after the Crimean War. During that time, the British families who lived in Kadikoy’s Moda neighborhood built All Saints Church.
Address: Caferaga, Yusuf Kamil Pasa Sok. No:8, 34710 Kadikoy/Istanbul
Sunday 12.30 – 16.00, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10.00-16.00
The service is held every Sunday between 11.00 – 12.30 and accepts attendances outside the communion with due respect.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY
The Church of the Holy Trinity, which opened for worship in 1880 and is located on the left side of Siraselviler Avenue before entering Istiklal Avenue in Taksim, is Istanbul’s largest Greek Catholic site of worship.
The Neo-Baroque style of the church is highlighted by two majestic domes and two bell towers. The Greek communion still uses it now.
Address: Katip Celebi Mah. 34433 Beyoglu/Istanbul
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
The Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua, located in Taksim on Istiklal Avenue, is regarded as one of Istanbul’s most beautiful and magnificent churches.
The church, which features Neo-Gothic design, was built in 1912 by architect Giulio Mongeri, who was born in Istanbul and is home to Istanbul’s largest congregation of Catholics. The flats in the court of the church at the entrance to Istiklal Avenue, which are connected by a corridor, are the first reinforced concrete structures on Istiklal Avenue.
Address: Tomtom, Istiklal Cad. No:325
CRIMEA MEMORIAL CHURCH
In 1868, the Crimea Memorial Church, an Anglican church, was completed. Sultan Abdulmejid erected the Neo-Gothic chapel in remembrance of the British soldiers who fought in the Crimean War.
The church is open for worship today, and the church’s communion is made up of Sri Lankans and East Asians.
Address: Sahkulu, Serdar-i Ekrem Cad. No:52, 34425 Beyoglu/Istanbul
CHURCH OF ST. MARY OF THE MONGOLS (BLOODY CHURCH)
This church in Balat, sometimes known as the Bloody Church, was blessed in the late 13th century and is currently known as the Church of St. Mary of the Mongols. The church’s most notable feature is that it was never converted into a mosque throughout the Ottoman Empire. The church is normally open on weekends and is reserved for the Greek Orthodox communion’s worshipping activities.
Address: Balat, Firketeci Sok. No:1, 34087 Fatih/Istanbul
SAINT PIERRE CHURCH
Saint Pierre Church was built in 1841 on Galata Kulesi Street in Karakoy. The church was moved here after the takeover of the Dominican priests’ church in Galata, which is now known as Arap Mosque.
The Basilica stele, four-sided altar, and the church’s back walls were built inside a section of Galata’s old Genoese defenses. The “Hodegetria” (Meaning “Our Lady of the Way”), which can be found at the fourth altar, is the most valuable object in the church.
Address: Kuledibi, Galata Kulesi Sok. No: 26 34420 – Istanbul
BULGARIAN ST. STEPHEN CHURCH (BULGARIAN IRON CHURCH)
The Bulgarian Church (St. Stephen), located near Fener district on the Golden Horn’s shore and also known as the Bulgarian Iron Church, grabs attention with its gold-colored decorations and architectural aspect. Ships carried the iron doors used in its construction from Vienna in 1871.
Address: Balat, Murselpasa Cad. No:10, 34087 Fatih/Istanbul
SAINT GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Gregory the Great The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, located on Karakoy’s Kemeralti Avenue, was founded in 1431 and is Istanbul’s oldest Armenian church.
Despite its diminutive size, the church’s architecture, which is fashioned with original Armenian architectural characteristics, a beautiful dome, and a good balance of internal and exterior details, gives it a massive appearance.
Address: Hacimimi, Kemeralti Cad. No:40, 34425 Beyoglu/Istanbul
HOLY VORTVOTS VORODMAN CHURCH
The Children of Thunder Church, or Holy Vortvots Vorodman Church, is a Byzantine church that was utilized by Armenians following the conquest of Istanbul. The edifice, which has been used as a patriarchal church since 1641 and is one of the three most well-known Armenian churches, is located in Kumkapi district.
Address: Muhsine Hatun, Sevgi Sok. No:7, 34130 Fatih/Istanbul
HAGIA EUPHEMIA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
The Hagia Euphemia Greek Orthodox Church, which is located in Kadikoy Bazaar’s little square, was built in 1694 and dates back to the 1830s. According to church tradition, Hagia Euphemia was tortured and died in 305 for refusing to worship the pagan gods of the time and choosing Christianity.
Address: Osmanaga, Muhurdar Cad. No:27, 34714 Kadikoy/Istanbul
BUYUKADA CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE
Despite that the foundation of the Church of St. George’s current building was laid in 1905, the existence of the church dates back as far as 1751 as a monastery according to the available information.
Address: Buyukada-nizam, Gulistan Cad. No:2, 34970 Adalar/Istanbul
MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH
Garabet Amira Balyan, a member of the well-known Balyan family, built the Armenian Church of St. Mary in Besiktas in 1838.
Address: Mecidiye, Cibinlik Sok. No:3, 34347 Besiktas/Istanbul
CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The church was built between 1845 and 1846 in the court of Notre Dame de Sion French High School on Cumhuriyet Avenue in Istanbul’s Sisli district. It was created at the request of Hillereau, the Pope’s ambassador in Istanbul, by architect Gaspard Fossati.
The church was restored in 1865 after sustaining damage from the earthquakes. In comparison to other well-known buildings, the interior of this Catholic church built in the Baroque style is smaller. When Monseigneur Hillereau built the church, he also built a catacomb for the priestesses and followers of St. Esprit to be buried.
Address: Ergenekon, Cumhuriyet Cad. 127/A D:127/A, 34373 Sisli/Istanbul
HAGIA EIRENE MUSEUM
Hagia Irene Church, one of Istanbul’s oldest Byzantine churches, with a history dating back to the 4th century. Hagia Irene Church, which is now a museum and is located in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace, accommodates a variety of cultural activities, classical music concerts, and exhibitions.
Address: Topkapi Sarayi Avlusu, Sultanahmet Posta Kodu:34122 Fatih / Istanbul
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