The Cosmopolitan Faith of İstanbul

İstanbul has a rich heritage serving many religions and is a city with strong cosmopolitan roots. People of many faiths can discover their places of worship throughout the city.

The Eastern Roman churches in İstanbul are among the oldest surviving places of worship in the world. Although the Church of Hagia Sophia, the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, and the Theotokos Pammakaristos Church were converted into mosques after the fall of Constantinople, their beauty and artistic legacy still live on.

The Pammakaristos Church has a history dating back to the 8th century. The church is one of the most important Orthodox Eastern Roman churches and one of the largest quantities of Eastern Roman mosaics was used to build the church, which was converted into a mosque in the 15th century. Today, the structure serves as a museum and is one of the city’s main attractions. It is made of recessed bricks with a cross in a square plan and five domes; the walls inside have inscriptions on various religious events of the time.

The Catholic churches are second to none in İstanbul. St Anthony Padua, also known as St Antoine, is incredibly popular for Christmas Mass and has the largest congregation.

As the largest Roman Catholic church in İstanbul, the Church of St Anthony of Padua is a symbol of the history of Catholicism in Türkiye. The small basilica got its Venetian neo-Gothic appearance when it was completed in the early 20th century. The red brick façade, arcades, aisles and arches add to its interesting architecture. The services of the church are usually led by Italian, English and Polish priests, and are attended by people from all over the world.

With its inconspicuous pink and purple doorway and located near the Beyoğlu district, St Peter and St Paul’s Church is one of the most attractive Catholic places of worship in İstanbul. It is a classical Dominican church built by the Genoese in 1604. Like many other Latin churches in the city, its courtyard design reflects the Ottoman rule that Latin churches could not be built directly on a street or on a hill. Known for its structural beauty and features, the design of the basilica has an altar on four sides and a sky-blue dome on the chancel, decorated with shimmering golden stars. The exterior is equally charming, with walls covered in beautiful inscriptions.

One of İstanbul’s oldest Catholic churches, the Church of St Mary Draperis is a magnificent sight. The magnificent Italian pink marble that stretches across the entire church reveals to the naked eye that much care and thought went into the construction of this mid-1700s church. The altar of the chapel also contains a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary.

The Fener Rum Patriarchate is particularly important to Orthodox Christians because it is located on the site chosen for the baptism of King Constantine’s granddaughter, Princess Maria Olympia.

Many Orthodox places of worship have modest but beautiful exteriors, and the Bulgarian Saint Stephen Church of İstanbul can easily captivate you with its beauty. This church is located in the Fener district and belongs to the Bulgarian Orthodox faith. It is probably the only church in the region built of cast iron and is also known as the Iron Church. It is interesting to note that the church was originally built as a wooden structure. After the original structure was damaged, it was transformed into a cast iron building by a 19th century architect, which increased its beauty many times over.

The Orthodox Church of Hagia Triada in İstanbul is one of the most famous Christian Orthodox churches in Turkiye. Dating back to the 19th century, the church is an active house of faith. Hagia Triada can be roughly translated as Holy Trinity. The church is located in the Beyoğlu district, near Taksim Square. Although the period in which the church was built was known for architectural restrictions, the church was built in the neo-baroque style and also has elements of the basilica and neo-gothic styles.

The Armenian Church of the Three Altars, is a fine example of religious architecture in İstanbul. Although the church was originally founded in 1805, the current church building dates back to 1838. Tucked away in a side street, the church is a place of peace and tranquillity. The exterior has a simple, tranquil beauty. Inside you will find magnificent chandeliers, vibrant paintings and an exquisite altar that is the centrepiece of this place of worship.

The Crimean Church is one of İstanbul’s most famous landmarks. It was built in 1868 to commemorate the martyrs of the Crimean War and is also known as the Anglican Church. The famous British architect George Edmund Street built it in the grand neo-Gothic style and made it one of the most beautiful Protestant churches with its distinctive Anglican architecture that stands in stark contrast to the ornate Ottoman and European buildings found throughout the city. The building, hidden by tall trees in the surrounding garden, would look at home in any English town.