Orthodox Istanbul churches

Istanbul is the birthplace of Orthodoxy. When the city was called Constantinople, being the capital of the Byzantine Empire, it pretended to win leadership in the Christian world. Rome disputed this right. These disagreements led to a split, which occurred in the Middle Ages. Since then, the Orthodox and Catholics profess several different faiths. Orthodox believers of Constantinople (later Istanbul) pray in the most beautiful churches in the world...

Hagia Sophia

The most grandiose Orthodox church of the world, Hagia Sophia was constructed by the Emperor Constantine who had legitimized Christianity in the Roman Empire. The temple was reconstructed several times, and the latest version survived until now. This is a huge church visible from a distance of tens of kilometers. The Church is replete with murals, mosaics, jewelry, marble columns of pagan temples... Ottomans have transformed it into a mosque, and now Sophia is a museum, open for the visitors.

Patriarchate of Constantinople

This inconspicuous-looking little church is a real treasure. Patriarchate of Constantinople remained the center of the Orthodox world for many centuries. Nothing has changed during Turkish ministry: the sultans favored the Christian population of the empire. Patriarchate of Constantinople is replete with relics: cross of the Saviour, column where Jesus was scourged, nail from the Noah’s ship, a lot of precious ancient icons and images...

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church

An amazing building, adorning the shores of the Golden Horn, the Bulgarian church is made of... pure iron. Not a piece of wood or stone! Lots of people from all over the world come to see this Orthodox wonder. A miracle is explained very simply: a few times the church was set on fire, and then it was decided to make it from iron.

St. Irene Church

The oldest Orthodox church in Istanbul has survived intact since the mid of the 4th century! This temple was the most important in Istanbul until the completion of the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia. After the conquest of Byzantium by the Turks the church of St. Irene was accommodated to the arsenal of Janissaries, but now they hold concerts there because of the incredible acoustics.