Christian Churches in Istanbul

The Saint Antoine Church, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova, is located on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu, on the left side of the street if you are facing from Galatasaray towards Tünel. Construction began in 1906 and the church was completed in 1912. Its architect, Giulo Mongeri, who was born in Istanbul, gave it an Italian Neo-Gothic style. Today it is Istanbul's largest church with the busiest congregation and is run by Italian priests. The Church was built in a courtyard. The entrance of the church is on the main street between two apartments which were built to raise money for the church. There are regular catholic masses every Sunday.

The Bulgarian church belongs to the Bulgarian minority and is the most interesting church in Istanbul. The Bulgarian minority of the Ottoman Empire used to pray at the churches of the Fener Orthodox Patriarchy. Due to the nationalistic movements, Bulgarians were allowed to build their own church in the 19th century. First, a small wooden church was built on the shore of the Golden Horn between Balat and Fener squares (near Eyup district) where the current church is located, but later this was developed into a larger building. An iron frame was preferred to concrete reinforcement due to the weak ground conditions. The construction plans were prepared by Hovsep Aznavur, an Armenian of Istanbul origin. An international competition was conducted to produce the prefabricated parts of the church. An Austrian firm, R. Ph. Wagner, won the competition. The prefabricated parts were produced in Vienna and transported to Istanbul by ship through the Danube and the Black Sea. After one and a half years work, it was completed in 1898. The main skeleton of the church was made of steel and covered by metal boards, hence today it's also known as "iron church". All the pieces were attached together with nuts, bolts, rivets or welding. The architectural styles come from the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Baroque periods.

The Bulgarian church was lately restored and re-opened to public in January 2018.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is located in the Fener neighborhood in Eyup district, between Sadrazam Ali Pasha Street and Incebel Street. In 1602, the Patriarch moved to Aya Yorgi, when the site was used as monastery. Since that time, a good many renovations have occurred, the most recent of which ended in 1991, owing to damage sustained by fire in 1941. Although not so significant architecturally, Aya Yorgi possesses valuable historical artifacts. Among the most significant are: a patriarchs throne dating circa the 5th century; three samples of rare mosaic icons; a column which is believed to have been used for the binding and flogging of Jesus in Jerusalem; and cascades belonging to three women saints.

Surp Krikor Lusarovic is located in Karakoy neighborhood and is the oldest Armenian church in Istanbul. It is written in a manuscript that there was a church there in the name of Surp Sarkis in 1360. It was rebuilt in 1431. Since it was fell down in 1958, architect Bedros Zabyan built a new one. It is one of the churches which was built during Turkish Republic period. Its conical dome differs it from other Armenian churches. In the crypt there are some nice tiles deriving from the previous church on the site.

The Armenian Orthodox church was lately restored and re-opened to public in 2012.

Virgin Mary Church is the only church in Istanbul which was built by Suryanis (Assyrian). It was built in Beyoglu - Taksim district in 1960 with the stones brought from Mardin where the head church of Suryanis is located. The Assyrian generally use churches that they either rent or borrow from the other denominations. There are also other sections in the church such as a school and an administration office.

The Anglican Church was also called Crimean church. It was built in Beyoglu - Taksim district, on the land donated by Sultan Abdulmecit, between 1858-68 by the British architect George Edmund Street in memory of British soldiers who had participated in the Crimean War. All stones used in the construction were brought from Malta. Closed in 1978 due to the lack of a congregation, but was re-opened in 1991. It is in Neo-Gothic architecture.

Other interesting but smaller churches in Istanbul that are located in Beyoglu - Taksim district, in Pera neighborhood and in Galata neighborhood are; St. Maria Draperis Church, Latin Italian Church, Armenian - Catholic Surp Yerrortutyon Church, Aya Triada Church, Aya Andrea Orthodox Church, St. Louis Church, Terre-Sainte Spanish Church, English Embassy's Church, German Protestant Church, Union Protestant Church, and 7th Day Adventist Church . Meanwhile along the Bosphorus are; Bebek Rum Orthodox Ayios Haralambos Church, Ortakoy Rum Orthodox Ayios Fokas Church, Bahariye Surp Levon Church, and Kuzguncuk Rum Orthodox Ayios Pantaleymon Church.

Not to forget two masterpieces which are converted today:

• Ayasofya Mosque (Hagia Sophia)
• Kariye Museum (St. Saviour in Chora)