Setting the record straight: List of churches in Turkey (2023)

(A.W.)–The newly appointed ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, in response to questions sent by Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), made incorrect statements about the churches in Turkey. We would like to provide some facts for the Ambassador's attention.

As Armenian Weekly readers know of arecent articlepublished in the newspaper, the approximate number of Armenian churches in Ottoman Turkey before 1915 is 2,300, while the number of active Armenian churches in Turkey today is 34-28 in Istanbul, 6 in Anatolia. The article further clarified that these numbers represented only the Armenian Apostolic Churches under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. When the pre-1915 number of numerous Armenian Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical churches is added to the 2,300 Armenian Apostolic churches, plus Greek churches, plus Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches belonging to the various European communities in Ottoman Turkey, the number of Christian churches folds easily. Some research would be needed to pin down the exact number of Christian churches before 1915; however, it is relatively easier to determine the number of active Christian churches in Turkey today.

The following list shows the Armenian churches that are still in Turkey, both in Istanbul and Anatolia:

Armenian Apostolic Churches in Turkey

In Estambul:

Armenian Church of Christ the King (Kadıköy, Istanbul)

Church of the Apparition of the Holy Cross (Kuruçeşme, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Archangels (Balat, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Cross (Kartal, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Cross (No Greetings, Üsküdar, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Virgins Hripsimiants (Büyükdere, Istanbul)

Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church (Bakırköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God (Beşiktaş, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God (Eyüp, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God (Ortaköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God (Yeniköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Nativity of the Mother of God (Bakırköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection (Kumkapı, Istanbul)

Armenian Chapel of the Holy Resurrection (Taksim, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Three Young Saints (Boyacıköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Holy Trinity (Galatasaray, Istanbul)

Narlikapi Armenian Apostolic Church (Narlıkapı, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint Elijah the Prophet (Eyüp, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (Üsküdar)

Armenian Church of Saint John the Evangelist (Gedikpaşa, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint John the Evangelist (Narlıkapı, Istanbul)

calle John The Forerunner Igreja Armênia (Bağlarbaşı, Uskudar, Estambul)

Armenian Church of Saint George (Sourp Kevork) (Samatya, Istanbul)

Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Sourp Krikor Lousavoritch) (Ghalatya, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Sourp Krikor Lousavoritch) (Kuzguncuk, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Sourp Krikor Lousavoritch) (Karaköy, Istanbul)

street. Gregory The Enlightener (Kinaliada, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of St. James (Altımermer, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint Nicholas (Beykoz, Istanbul)

street. Armenian Church of Saint Nicholas (Topkapı, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of St. Santoukht (Hisar, Istanbul)

Armenian Chapel of Saint Savior (Sourp Pergitch) (Yedikule, Istanbul)

Street. Sergius Armenian Chapel (Balikli, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saint Stephen (Karaköy, Istanbul)

street. Armenian Church of Stephen (Yeşilköy, Istanbul)

street. Armenian Apostolic Church of Takavor (Kadıköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of Saints Thaddeus and Barlomé (Yenikapı, Istanbul)

Church of the Holy Trinity (Sourp Yerrortutyoun) (Pera, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of St. Vartanants (Feriköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles (Kandilli, Istanbul)

Of the Armenian Apostolic Churches that still exist in Istanbul, only 28 are currently active; the others are closed due to lack of clergy and/or lack of congregation.

not Anatolia

Holy Forty Martyrs of the Armenian Church Sebastea (Iskenderun, Hatay)

Iglesia armenia de la Santa Madre de Dios (Vakıflıköy, Samandağ, Hatay)

call. George (Sourp Kevork) Iglesia armenia (Derik, Mardin)

Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Kayseri)

Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Kırıkhan)

Armenian Church of St. Giragos (Diyarbakır) (under reconstruction)

Armenian Catholic Churches in Turkey

Armenian Catholic Church of St. Mary (Beyoğlu, Istanbul)

Armenian Catholic Church of St. Jean Chrisostomus (Taksim, Istanbul)

Saint Leo Armenian Catholic Church (Kadıkoy, Istanbul)

Armenian Catholic Church of the Assumption (Buyukada, Istanbul)

Armenian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (Koca Mustafa Paşa, Istanbul)

Saint Savior Armenian Catholic Church (Karaköy, Istanbul)

Armenian Catholic Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Ortaköy, Istanbul)

street. St. Paul's Armenian Catholic Church (Buyukdere, Istanbul)

Armenian Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist (Yeniköy, Istanbul)

Of the Armenian Catholic churches in Istanbul, only the first four are active.

Armenian Evangelical/Protestant Churches in Turkey

Armenian Evangelical Church (Pera, Istanbul)

Armenian Evangelical Church (Gedik Pasha, Istanbul)

Until recently, the Armenian Church Foundations and the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate had great difficulties in preserving or protecting the churches and schools under their jurisdiction; there would be no government permission to make minor repairs or even paint the dilapidated church and school buildings. But there has been an improvement under the current government, which has restored the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island in Van Lake, albeit as a state museum, and has given permission for the repair and reconstruction of some historic churches, notably the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir.

In order to provide a complete picture of the churches in Turkey today, we present below a list of non-Armenian churches.

greek orthodox churches

Fener Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate, Fener

Panagia Mugliotissa, H. Georgios Poteras, Fener

St. Irene, Topkapi

Aya Yorgi, Buyukada

St. Poliectus, Topkapi

Havariyun, Fatih

Kanli, Fatih

Nicholas, in the grave

Kyriaaki, Kumkapi

Panagia Elpida, Kumkapi

Theodore, Yenikapi

Panagiea, Altımermer

until

Jorge

christo analepsis,

Nicolau,

Constantino,

Helena

Panagia, Belgradkapi

Nicholas, Topkapi

Demetrius, ivy

Georgios, Edirnekapi

Prayer, Salmatomruk

Panagia Hanceriotissa, Tekfursarai

Panagia Suda, Egrikapi

Panagia Blakherna, Demetios Kananou, Ayvansaray

Panagia Balinu, Taksiartes, Balat

Hpasaskave, Haskoy

Konstantinos y Helene, Beyoglu

Panagia, Galatasaray

Triassic, Taksim

Panagia Evangelistria, Dolapdere

Demetrio, Atanasio, Kurtulus

Dodeka Apostoloi, Feriköy

Metamorfose de Christos, Şişli

Panagia, Besiktas

Phokos, Ortakoy

Demetrios, İoannes Prodromos, Kuruçeşme

Taxiarcas, Prophetes Elias, Arnavutköy

Khralamsok, Pato

Panagia Evangelistira, Boyacikoy

Taksiarches, İstinye

Nikolaos, Panagia, Yeniköy

Panagia Pege, Silivrikapi

Nicholas, George, Christos, Buyukada

Trias, Hsypridon, Khristos, Heybeliada

Georgios, Christos, Burgazada

Khrasitos, Kinaliada

Heuphemia, Triásica (Hagia Triada), Kadıköy

Hioannes Khrysostomos, Kalamış

georgio windmill

Elijah Prophets, Uskudar

Pantelemio, Georgios, Kuzguncuk

Georgios, Cengelkoy

Metamorphosis de Cristo, Kandilli

Konstantinos and Helene, Pasabahce

Paraskeve, Beykoz

Paraskeve, Constantino, Tarabya

Paraskeve, Buyukdere

Ioannes Prodromos, Yenimahalle

Georgios, Khristos Analepsis, Bakırköy

Stephanos, Yesilköy

Demetrio, Panagia, Elias el Profeta, Buyukada

Nikolaos, Elijah the Prophet, Heybeliada

Ioannes Prodromos, Burgazada

Panagia, Kinaliada

Georgios Metokhi, Lanterna

Georgios Metokhi, Yenikoy

Georgios Metokhi, Heybeliada

Ioannes Prodromos Methokhi, Balat

Panagia Kaphatiane, Hnikolaos, İoannes Prodromos, Galata

Balikli Santa Kharalampos, Silivrikapi

Haigoi Anargiroi, Silivrikapi

Christos Genesis, Arnavutkoy

Although these Greek churches still stand, very few are active as there are virtually no Greeks in Turkey. The latest census figures indicate a population of less than 2,000, which means there are about 20 Greeks left for every Greek church in Turkey.

European Catholic Churches

Saint Benedict (French), Galata

Holy Spirit (inglés), Beyoglu

St. Anthony (French), Beyoglu

Santa Maria (Italian), tunnel

Sankt Georg (Austria), Karakoy

Saint Peter and Saint Paul (English), Galata

Our Lady of the Assumption (French), Fashion

Saint Augustine (French), Fenerbahçe

Czestochova Meryem Ana (polonesa), Polonezköy
Anglican churches

Anglican Chapel of the English Consulate, Galatasaray

Crimea Anglican Church, Beyoglu

Pear Resurrection Church - Aynalıçeşme Beyoğlu

All Saints Anglican-Presbyterian, Fashion
protestant churches

Iglesia protestant alemana, Tarlabasi, Beyoglu

Chapel of the Consulate of the Netherlands, Beyoğlu

swedish lutheran tunnel

Pentecostal do Rio Estambul, Harbiye

Istanbul Protestant Altintepe, Altintepe
Other Orthodox churches

russian orthodox galatian

Sveti Stefan Orthodox Bulgarian, Balat

In recent years, some Christian churches have been built in tourist areas such as Antalya and Bodrum, frequented by European retirees, but they are not registered.

In responding to Senator Menendez's questions, perhaps the Ambassador only relied on information provided by Turkish government sources, which can sometimes be unreliable on matters related to "past history" or current concerns such as Christian missionary activities. A notable example of this is a January 2007 circular from Turkey's General Directorate of Security, which stated that although there were 77,777 mosques in Turkey at the end of 2006, the number of non-Muslim religious institutions had risen to 373. There are concerns that this number has risen sharply from 273 in 2005, mainly due to illegal missionary activities by Protestant Christians. Of the 373 registered religious institutions, 321 were Christian churches, including 90 Greek Orthodox (75 in Istanbul), 55 Armenian (48 in Istanbul), 60 Assyrian, 3 Chaldean, 4 Bulgarian, 1 Arab Orthodox, 53 Christian churches for foreigners, and 52 illegal Protestant missionary churches. In addition, 36 Jewish synagogues and 9 Jehovah's Witness temples were registered. Interestingly, there were more than 900 “gathering centers” (cemevi) registered for the Alevis as cultural centers, since their belonging to an official religion is not recognized.