This Orthodox church, located in Istanbul, is within walking distance from the tram stop. This is a unique place. It is monumental in Byzantine style and darkly solemn. Inside there are chairs for the parishioners. Admission is free, candles are also available. A believer is invited to independently assess his religious feelings and make a donation according to the internal course of conscience. There is no coercion and price lists, which is great. Among the relics there is a stone of the flagellation of Christ, the relics of saints and a unique Byzantine icon with a mosaic size of a fraction of a millimeter. In fact, this is pixel art, executed in the deep Middle Ages. We should also mention the local priest. He is a very colorful cleric with a sprawling beard and a kind face. He treats the Russian-speaking and Orthodox very well, even if he does not fully know our language. Visiting this temple greatly broadens your horizons and allows you to look at the religious tradition from a new angle.
Aya Sofia impressed me the most in Istanbul.. the beauty of the mosaic, it is very difficult to imagine that all the walls were in a wonderful mosaic and it looks like the whole church was shining from the inside.. the navel where the emperors were crowned... the oak door of Noah's Ark... and much, much more.. I highly recommend standing in a wild queue and getting inside!!
Istanbul.
The Patriarchal Church of St.George.
It has a short appearance, but is richly decorated inside. When Byzantium fell
(1453) under the blows of the Ottomans. The churches have lost their independence. They were converted to mosques. The same Sultan Suleiman 1 (1520-1566) ordered the removal of the cross from this temple. It has been reconstructed many times. The temple is now in operation. We got to the service dedicated to the memory of the Holy Empress Theophania, who was the wife of Emperor Leo the Wise. The service was conducted by the Patriarch of Constantinople. There are three holy Wives in total.
The shrines are part of a column (flagellation pillar) from Jerusalem with the remains of the ring to which Jesus Christ was tied during the flagellation.
The Icon of the Mother of God "The Blessed One" ("Pammakarista") is one of the most revered and ancient icons in the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Phaneromeni (Revealed). It is revered due to its miraculous properties.
Carved gilded iconostasis. It opens on major holidays/services.
Landmark : Istanbul's Fener quarter (Fanar ). Along the Golden Horn Bay.
Entrance is through a brown wooden booth with guards, free of charge. The temple is small, the main attractions are the reliquaries with the relics of saints and a piece of the pillar, at which, according to legend, Jesus Christ was scourged. Everything can be photographed and touched. The church shop is to the right of the cathedral. They accept lira/dollars/euros. We were in March 2023
A place with an amazing history, where the most important Christian relics in Orthodoxy are kept. We came in during a walk along the Fener, in the lunch area, and accidentally found ourselves in the front rows at a Sunday service with the participation of the Patriarch of Constantinople himself. Be sure to visit during your trip to Istanbul, the experience is unforgettable!