Christianity in Turkey

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Emblem of the Turkish Orthodox Church

Christianity has a long history in Anatolia (nowadays part of the Republic of Turkey's territory), which is the birth place of numerous Christian Apostles and Saints, such as Apostle Paul of Tarsus, Timothy, St. Nicholas of Myra, St. Polycarp of Smyrna and many others.

Two out of the five centers (Patriarchates) of the ancient Pentarchy are in Turkey: Constantinople (Istanbul) and Antioch (Antakya). Antioch was also the place where the followers of Jesus were called "Christians" for the first time in history, as well as being the site of one of the earliest and oldest surviving churches, established by Saint Peter himself. For a thousand years, the Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world.

Turkey is also home to the Seven Churches of Asia, where the Revelations to John were sent. Apostle John is reputed to have taken Virgin Mary to Ephesus in western Turkey, where she spent the last days of her life in a small house, known as the House of the Virgin Mary, which still survives today and has been recognized as a holy site for pilgrimage by the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as being a Muslim shrine. The cave of the Seven Sleepers is also located in Ephesus.

All of the first seven Ecumenical Councils which are recognized by both the Western and Eastern churches were held in present-day Turkey. Of these, the Nicene Creed, declared with the First Council of Nicaea (İznik) in 325, is of utmost importance and has provided the essential definitions of present-day Christianity.

Today the Christian population of Turkey includes an estimated 45,000 Armenian Orthodox[1], 17,000 Syriac Orthodox, 8,000 Chaldean Catholic, 3,000-4,000 Greek Orthodox[2], and smaller numbers of Bulgarians, Georgians, and Protestants.

Christian communities

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church in Istanbul, Turkey

Churches of the Byzantine rite

• Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Istanbul is the seat of the patriarchate, one of the oldest of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

• Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch

Antioch is the official seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. Hatay Province including Antakya is not part of the canonic area of the Church of Constantinople. Most of the local orthodox persons are Arabic-speaking.

• Turkish Orthodox Church was created by the wish to create a Turkish national church.

Armenian church in Vakifli, Turkey

Churches of the Armenian rite

• Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople)

35 churches in Istanbul and its area. Other churches in Kayseri, Diyarbakır, Derik, İskenderun, Vakifli Koyu and Kirikhan. Besides Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church (translation: the Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Patriarchal Church) in Kumkapi, Istanbul, there are tens of Armenian Apostolic churches.^[1].

• Armenian Catholic Church
• Armenian Evangelical Church

Churches of the Syriac rite

Mor Hananyo Monastery, near Mardin, Turkey

• Syriac Orthodox Church
• Assyrian Church of the East
• Syriac Catholic Church
• Chaldean Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Turkey

• Vicariate Apostolic of Istanbul
  • Cathedral: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul
  • Basilica: St. Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul, Istanbul
• Vicariate Apostolic of Anatolia
  • Cathedral: Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun, İskenderun
  • Co-cathedral: Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin, Mersin
• Archdiocese of Izmir
  • Cathedral: St. John's Cathedral, Izmir, Izmir
• Archeparchy of Istanbul (Armenian)
• Archeparchy of Diyarbakir (Chaldaean)
• Vicariate Apostolic of Istanbul (Byzantine)
• Church of St Peter of Antakya
  • Church: Church of St Peter

Anglican Church

The Anglicans in Turkey form part of the Eastern Archdeaconry of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. In 2008 the Bishop of Europe, Geoffrey Rowell caused controversy by ordaining a local man to minister to Turkish speaking Anglicans in Istanbul^[2].

The main churches are at Ankara (St Nicholas), Istanbul (Christ Church) and Izmir (St John the Evangelist).

Other denominations

Main article: Protestantism in Turkey

The Armenian Protestants own three Istanbul Churches from the 19th century.^[3] There is an Alliance of Protestant Churches in Turkey.^[4]

Christian temples

Churches of the Byzantine rite

Church name	Picture	Status
Saint Andrew in Krisei		converted into a mosque
Chora Church		converted into a mosque, museum
Church of Christ Pantokrator (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Church of Christ Pantepoptes (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Palace of Antiochos		ruins
Church of the Virgin of the Pharos		ruins
Monastery of Gastria		converted into a mosque
Church of St. George, Istanbul		active
Hagia Irene		museum
Hagia Sophia		converted into a mosque, museum
Church of the Holy Apostles		demolished, Fatih Mosque build on top
Church of Saint John the Baptist at Lips (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Monastery of Stoudios		ruins
Church of Saint John the Baptist en to Trullo (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Istanbul)		active
Church of St. Mary of the Mongols		active
Myrelaion		converted into a mosque
Church of Saint Nicholas of the Caffariotes (Istanbul)		converted into a mosque
Pammakaristos Church		converted into a mosque
Church of Sergius and Bacchus		converted into a mosque
Bulgarian St. Stephen Church		active
St. Demetrius Church in Feriköy, Istanbul		active
Church of Hagia Thekla tu Palatiu ton Blakhernon		converted into a mosque
Church of Hagios Theodoros (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Church of Hagias Theodosias en tois Dexiokratus		converted into a mosque
Church of the Theotokos Kyriotissa (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Kuştul Monastery		ruins
Sümela Monastery		museum
House of the Virgin Mary		museum
Meryem Ana Church		active

Churches of the Georgian rite

Church's name	Picture	Status
Notre Dame de Lourdes "tr:Bomonti Gürcü Katolik Kilisesi"		active
Oshki		abandoned
Khakhuli Monastery		converted into a mosque
Doliskana		abandoned
Bana cathedral		ruins
Tbeti Monastery		ruins
Surp Stephanos Georgian Church, Ani		ruins
Ishkhani		abandoned
Parkhali		converted into a mosque
Khandzta		ruins
Ekeki		ruins
Otkhta church		abandoned
Parekhi		ruins

Churches of the Armenian rite

Temple's name	Picture	Status
Church of the Apparition of the Holy Cross (Kuruçeşme, Istanbul) Yerevman Surp Haç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Archangels Armenian Church (Balat, Istanbul) Surp Hıreşdagabed Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Cross Armenian Church (Kartal, Istanbul) Surp Nişan Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Cross Armenian Church (Üskudar, Istanbul) Surp Haç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Hripsimiants Virgins Armenian Church (Büyükdere, Istanbul) Surp Hripsimyants Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Apostolic Church (Bakırköy, Istanbul) Surp Asdvadzadzin Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Church (Beşiktaş, Istanbul) Surp Asdvadzadzin Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Church (Eyüp, Istanbul) Surp Asdvadzadzin Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Church (Ortaköy, Istanbul) Surp Asdvadzadzin Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Church (Yeniköy, Istanbul) Surp Asdvadzadzin Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Resurrection Armenian Church (Kumkapı, Istanbul) Surp Harutyun Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Resurrection Armenian Church (Taksim, Istanbul) Surp Harutyun Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Three Youths Armenian Church (Boyacıköy, Istanbul) Surp Yerits Mangants Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Trinity Armenian Church (Galatasaray, Istanbul) Surp Yerrortutyun Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Narlıkapı Armenian Apostolic Church (Narlıkapı, Istanbul) Surp Hovhannes Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Elijah The Prophet Armenian Church (Eyüp, Istanbul) Surp Yeğya Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Garabed Armenian Church (Üsküdar, Istanbul) Surp Garabet Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (Uskudar)		unknown
St. John The Evangelist Armenian Church (Gedikpaşa, Istanbul) Surp Hovhannes Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. George (Sourp Kevork) Armenian Church (Samatya, Istanbul)		unknown
St. Gregory The Enlightener Armenian Church (Galata, Istanbul)		active
St. Gregory The Enlightener Armenian Church (Kuzguncuk, Istanbul) Surp Krikor Lusaroviç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Gregory The Enlightener Armenian Church (Karaköy, Istanbul) Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Gregory The Enlightener (Kınalıada, Istanbul)Armenial Church Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. James Armenian Church (Altımermer, Istanbul) Surp Hagop Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Nicholas Armenian Church (Beykoz, Istanbul) Surp Nigoğayos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Nicholas Armenian Church (Topkapı, Istanbul) Surp Nigoğayos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Santoukht Armenian Church (Rumelihisarı, Istanbul) Surp Santuht Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Saviour Armenian Chapel (Yedikule, Istanbul) Surp Pırgiç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Sergius Armenian Chapel (Balıklı, Istanbul) Surp Sarkis Anıt Mezar Şapeli		active
St. Stephen Armenian Church (Karaköy, Istanbul) Surp Istepanos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Stephen Armenian Church (Yeşilköy, Istanbul) Surp Istepanos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Takavor Armenian Apostolic Church (Kadıkoy, Istanbul) Surp Takavor Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Saints Thaddeus and Barholomew Armenian Church (Yenikapı, Istanbul) Surp Tateos Partoğomeos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Vartanants Armenian Church (Feriköy, Istanbul) Surp Vartanants Ermeni Kilisesi		active
The Twelve Holy Apostles Armenian Church (Kandilli, Istanbul) Surp Yergodasan Arakelots Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastea Armenian Church (Iskenderun, Hatay) Surp Karasun Manuk Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. George Armenian Church (Derik, Mardin) Surp Kevork Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Gregory The Enlightener Armenian Church (Kayseri) Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Ermeni Kilisesi		active
St. Gregory The Enligtener Armenian Church (Kırıkhan, Hatay) Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Kilisesi		active
St. Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır) Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi		active
Cathedral of Ani		ruins
Cathedral of Kars		converted into a mosque
Cathedral of Mren		ruins
Holy Apostles Monastery		ruins
Horomos		ruins
Karmravank (Vaspurakan)		ruins
Kaymaklı Monastery		ruins
Khtzkonk Monastery		ruins
Ktuts monastery		abandoned
Monastery of Yedi Kilisa		ruins
Narekavank		no trace, mosque build on top
Saint Bartholomew Monastery		ruins
Saint Karapet Monastery		ruins
St. Marineh Church, Mush		ruins
St. Stepanos Church		ruins
Tekor Basilica		ruins
Varagavank		ruins
Armenian church in Vakıflı Vakıflıköy Ermeni Kilisesi		active

Churches of the Syriac rite

Church name	Picture	Status
Mor Sharbel Syriac Orthodox church in Midyat		active
Mor Gabriel Monastery		active
Mor Hananyo Monastery		active

Roman Catholic Church

Temple's name	Picture	Status
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit	[[File:|150px]]	active
St. Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul		active
Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun		active
Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin		active
St. John's Cathedral, Izmir		active
Church of St Peter		museum
Church of San Domenico (Constantinople)		converted into a mosque
Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul		active

^[5]

References

1. ^ Listing of Armenian Churches in Armeniapedia
2. ^ "Istanbul ordination may worsen life for Christians" Church Times, 18 January 2008
3. ^ "German Site on Christians in Turkey". http://www.kirche-in-not.de/01_aktuelles/meldungen_2006_tuerkische_christen_fuer_eu_beitritt.php. 
4. ^ "World Evangelical Alliance". http://www.worldevangelicalalliance.com/members/europe.htm. 
5. ^ Template:Http://www.tao-klarjeti.ge/img site/naxazebi/naxazebi en.html

See also

• Religious minorities in Turkey
• Freedom of religion in Turkey
• Orthodox Christianity in Turkey
• The Last Assyrians
• Turcopoles
• Karamanlides