The museum is divided into archeology and ethnographic parts. Historical relics from the end of the Byzantine Era to as far back as 3,000 BC can be found in the archeology section. These consist of sculptures, coins, and various ceramic, metal, glass, and other items. Numerous inscriptions exist that provide details about the classical era. The Young Girl with a Dove Statue is the section's most eye-catching object. It is believed to be connected to the Artemisia religion, which suggests that there was once an Artemis temple on these grounds during the ancient era.

The ethnography part contains kaftans, three skirts (a typical female Turkmen garment), hand embroidery pieces, and silver jewelry. Many big stone objects, including sarcophagi and inscriptions, can be found in the garden. The museum received all of the objects you see in these 2 parts from all throughout Fethiye.

The first and most spectacular work of art you will see when you enter the five-domed Church of Pammakaristos is the main dome, which features Christ the Pantocrator and twelve prophets around him. An archangel-filled Deesis scene may be seen in the apse. Around Christ, there is also a clear "Most Benevolent" writing. On both sides of the apse, there are 13 bishop pictures that are visible, however, six of them are missing.

Maria, the wife of Michael Tarchaneiotes Glabas, is mentioned in inscriptions on the south and west walls. You can see the archangels Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel in the church's bema. A large red cross is also present.

You can see the well-known Baptism Scene if you look up. The image of Christ in the Jordan River is shown in this mosaic. On the left, wearing a mantle and putting his right hand close to Christ's head, is Saint John the Baptist. The four angels are positioned to the right, and a man is seen dousing Christ in water above them. Along with a baby figure within a shell on the lower left, you can just make out a few little fish figures in the water.

A somewhat deteriorated image of three males dressed in red, yellow, blue, green, and black outfits is also present. They are moving towards the altar while holding a present in each hand.

Pammakaristos Church Location

The Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul is situated on Fethiye Street in the Fatih neighborhood. The Draman is the bus stop nearest to the church. The 90 and 90B IETT buses can take you to this bus stop.

Sadly, there aren't any nearby metro stops for the Pammachristos Church. The Emniyet – Fatih metro stop is the nearest one, and it can be reached by foot in 20 minutes. If you don't mind that, you can take the M1A Yenikapi – Ataturk Airport metro line or the M1B Yenikapi – Kirazli metro line to go to the Emniyet – Fatih metro stop. If none of these metro lines are accessible to you, you can go to the Aksaray, which is also on the M1A and M1B metro lines, by using the Kabatas – Bagcilar tramway line or the M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman metro line.

You can catch the ferries to Eminonu from either Kadikoy or Uskudar on the Asian side. Take the 99A IETT bus from Eminonu and get off at either the Fener or the Koprubasi station. You can walk for ten minutes to the Pammakaristos Church from either of these bus stops.

While you're here, you may also arrange a tour of the Chora Museum and stop by this incredibly well-known church immediately following Pammakaristos Church.

Visiting The Pammakaristos Church

The Pammakaristos Church is open from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm throughout the summer season, which runs from 1 April to 31 October. These hours are 8.30 AM and 5.30 PM from 31 October to 1 April throughout the winter season. There is really no excuse for you to skip this special museum on your ancient city tour of Istanbul since it is open every day and admission is free.

popular tourist destination that you can learn more about it by visiting the istanbul.com website and have a good time when you are there

The prefabricated parts were produced in Vienna and transported to Istanbul by ship along the Danube and through the Black Sea. After one and a half years, it was completed in 1898. The main skeleton of the church was made of steel and covered by metal boards. All the metal pieces were attached together with nuts, bolts, rivets or welding. Its architectural style is inspired by the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Baroque movements.

Source: www.ibb.gov.tr

The old building of the church was demolished in 1961 and it was subsequently rebuilt and reopened it for religious services in a special ceremony in 1961. It is a graceful example of masonry in the style of the city of Mardin, located in the southeast of Turkey. This workmanship is especially evident in the heads of wreathed columns used in the church. In addition to the church building, there is an annex containing a church school and an administrative section.

-A wooden church was destroyed in a fire in 1699. In 1762 the Catholic Franciscan Church was built on the land of the French Embassy but it was demolished because it blocked the path of a tram.

-St. Antoine Church and its premises were then rebuilt in 1912on the area where the “Concordia Theater an Garde” had existed.

-The Catholic Church has the largest Christian community in Istanbul and the believers of every kind of religion visit it frequently.

-Although the name of the church is “Saint Antoine” in French, it is also called “St. Antoine” since Italian priests administer it.

The Ashkenazi Synagogue is located near the Galata Tower in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul. Stands in the middle of the large street connecting to the lower section of the Galata neighborhood. This area is the former banking financial section of the city. The building was designed by architect Gabriele Tedeschi. The beautiful façade is composed of three richly decorated grand arcades crowned by two domes.it recalls the facades of numerous synagogues built in the nineteenth century in cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire by bourgeois Jews. And it is not by accident, since many of Istanbul’s Ashkenazim arrived here from Austria and Hungary. The plaque at the entrance to the synagogue commemorates among other things, the fiftieth birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph, whose wife game to the synagogue the magnificent Aron made of carved alder and inlay and crowned by a wooden dome decorated with gold. It is in fact the only currently active Ashkenazi Synagogue in Istanbul that is open to visits and prayers. Founded by Jews of Austrian origin in the 20^th century. With a dome painted to resemble shining stars and its chandeliers which brought from Vienna, the Synagogue borrows a number of influences from Islamic motifs and its unique architecture evokes a typical Ottoman summer palace.

The Synagogue continues to preserve Ashkenazi traditions. Out of a total of three synagogues built by Ashkenazim, it is the last remaining synagogue, as the population of Ashkenazi Jews are about 4 percent of the total Jewish population in Turkey. Approximately 2000 Ashkenazic Jews live in Istanbul today.

If you want to visit the Synagogue during weekdays, it is possible in the mornings and for Shabbat services on Saturday mornings. The Synagogue also holds wedding, Bar Mitzvahs and other ceremonies in the Ashkenazi tradition.

Italian Synagogue:

The Italian Synagogue, also known as Kal de los Frankos, This elegant 19^th century synagogue resembles a church because of its neo-Gothic style, the Italian Synagogue is discreetly located in a harmonious building behind the wall of a small courtyard the design preserves the original structure dating from 1887.the centuries old presence of Italian Jews in the Ottoman capital is attested by the memory of the ancient Synagogues of Puglia and Messina, which have since disappeared in 1866. The Italian Jews separated from the rest of the Jewish community in Istanbul, which they are judged to be too traditionalist. It is used by Istanbul’s Italian Jewish community during the 19^th century, it derivate the name ever since and it is still used. Supported by the Italian embassy they obtained the right from Sultan Abdulaziz to form an autonomous congregation, similar to what already exited for the Ashkenazic community and the Karaites. The façade of the synagogue is restrained but harmonious with its rectangular pediment and brick double staircase leading the entrance of the synagogue. The prayer hall is painted completely white and surrounded by the women’s gallery on the second floor. In 1931 the original building was demolished and a new Synagogue was built in its place. Actually if you want to visit the synagogue you must obtain permission in advance from Turkey’s Chief Rabbinate. Today the Italian community numbers only a few hundred faithful.

The Neve Shalom Synagogue:

It is located on a small street near the Galata Tower. It was built by Genoese in the fourteenth century in a lively quarter that is still at the center of Jewish life in Istanbul. Close to the synagogue you will notice many typical Jewish homes of the period decorated with a Star of David on the pediment. The houses at 5 and 7 Timarci Street have their date of construction engraved on a foundation stone calculated according to both the Hebrew and European calendars. A few of the last surviving grand homes typical of the Ladino way of life remain in this quarter. The Neve Shalom Synagogue was designed by the architects Elio Ventura and Bernard Motola and was built in 1951 on the site of small prayer hall.

The early Ottoman Era consisted of a wide variations of Jewish Communities in Istanbul. After Sultan Mehmet II conquered Istanbul. He encouraged immigration to repopulate the city. Most of the immigrants settled near Galata district.

The church takes its name from a saint who was at that time working for the spread of Christianity. A group of pagans tried to kill Saint Irene by first throwing him into a well full of snakes and later dragging him over the ground while stoning him.

But in spite of the pagans’ efforts, Irene miraculously survived. Upon witnessing these supernatural occurrences, the majority of the pagans converted to Christianity and Irene became a saint in the eyes of the people. Emperor Constantine, who propagated Christianity as the single religion of the Roman Empire, named his church after this saint.

The church was first built from wood, but was burned down during the Nike Revolt of 532. Although the Emperor Justinian had the St. Irene restored together with Hagia Sofia, it was later to suffer significant damage in fires and earthquakes.

Fortunately, the church was renovated each time that it was damaged, and, after the conquest of Constantinople, remained within the walls of the Topkapı Palace courtyard. For a long period, St. Irene was used as a weapons depot; finally, in 1869, it was converted into a museum.

It thereby became the first museum of the Ottoman Empire, and has been used as such for quite a long time. Furthermore, it is the only church surviving today with an atrium (in other words, it is lit from above through small windows).

This ethereal building can only be toured with special permission, which can be acquired at the Hagia Sofia Museum. Due to its extraordinary acoustics, it often plays host to a variety of concerts and cultural/artistic events. ( Do not worry if you can’t find a concert in St. Irene Church while planning your trip to Istanbul, there are infinitely many events in Istanbul!)

The church is made entirely from stone and has a neogothic architectural style inspired by Malta. (A lovely destination after your trip to Istanbul!) The church was closed in 1971 due to its decreasing congregation and was re-opened under the leadership of a priest of the Anglican Church by Sri Lankan refugees in 1991 for religious services.

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit also known as the ST. Esprit Cathedral, located in Cumhuriyet CD., Şişli/İstanbul, is one of the principal Catholic churches in Istanbul. It is the second largest Roman Church in the city after Basilica of S. Antonio di Padova. The church was built with a Baroque architecture combined with the Roman way of architecture and the modern fashion with an aim to show the might of the Roman Catholic Church. The church has been a destination for several papal visits to Turkey, including Popo Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

In the middle of the courtyard you will notice a statue representing Pope Benedict XV and beautifying the courtyard with its magical design.

Also a musician at the court of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II is buried in the vaults of the church by the name of Giuseppe Donizetti.

All Sultans of the Ottoman Empire knew the value of all religion and they respected each of it and you can see that incarnate in Hagia Sofia as well.

Basilica Of S. Antonio Di Padova:

Also known as the Sent Antuan Bazilikasi is the largest church of the Roman Catholic Churches in Istanbul, it is located in Istiklal Avenue, and it is one of the most important Catholic churches in Istanbul, and among them has the largest community following its Masses.

The original design of the church was built in 1725 by the local Italian community of Istanbul but later it was demolished and replaced with the current building which was constructed on the same location. The new design of the church was designed by the Istanbulite Levantine architect Giulio Mongeri.

The church is actually considered a minor basilica and run by Italian priests, the Saturday Mass is in Italian and begins at 19:00, while the Sunday Mass has three different Masses on in Polish at 9:30, 10:00 in English, and 17:00 in Turkish.

Alongside St. Mary Draperis Church and SS. Peter and Paul it was one of the three Levantine parishes in Beyoğlu district.

Amazing fact: Pope John XXIII preached in this church for 10 years when he was the Vatican ambassador in Turkey before being elected as pope, his nickname is “The Turkish Pope” because of his fluent Turkish and love for Turkey and Istanbul.

Church Of St. Mary Draperis:

Christian life crisis prayer to god. Woman Pray for god blessing to wishing have a better life. woman hands praying to god with the bible. begging for forgiveness and believe in goodness.

Or in Turkish “Meryem Ana Draperis Latin Katolik Kilisesi”, built in 1584, the church is one of the most ancient Roman Catholic churches in Istanbul, it is important for many historical reasons.

The church is located in the district of Beyoğlu at Istiklal Caddesi at the bottom of a steep staircase, which is protected by an artistic fence.

The architecture of the church is fascinating the entrance is in neoclassical style, embellished by a statue of the Virgin Mary in a niche, the structure has a rectangular plan and is covered by a barrel vault and has three naves, the church has a bell tower with square plan not visible from the road, and also the church is decorated with four paintings, three of them being from the Venetian school. The first represents the Virgin Mary with two Franciscan, the second represents Saint Francis of Assisi, and on the left there is a painting representing the death of Saint Joseph. While the last one near the entrance represent Saint Roch protector against Plague.

Armenian Apostolic Church:

The origin of the Armenian Apostolic Church goes back to St. Gregory the Illuminator who is credited with having introduces the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity. It is one of the most ancient churches, its Christology is sometimes described as non-Chalcedonian because of rejecting the council of Chalcedon in 451.

Turkey’s Armenian Christian community is led by the Armenian Patriarchates of Istanbul and Jerusalem.

Istanbul’s Christology has a long-lasting history ranging from the ancient times to the Byzantine era to the Ottoman empire, which gives us a lot holy places to visit and wander their fascinating designs and architecture, when you walk inside any church in Istanbul you will feel the history inside those walls. And the sanity is indescribable.

According to the information on the Patriarchate records, Aya Yorgi Church was constructed in 1751. The small two-story building covered with tiles is known as the old church and has a small church, chapel and a prayer place. Aya Yorgi Church, on the other hand, is the new building on the hill that was built of face stone in 1905 and opened for use in 1909.
The church got its name from Aya Yorgos (Saint George), who started being referred to as Aya Yorgi by the Greeks over time. He was a soldier in Cappadocia that lived in the 3^rd century. He is one of the most known and loved saints and martyrs in Christianity. According to the legend, the people in the city were troubled by a murderous dragon. They gave the dragon sheep, but the dragon wasn’t satisfied. They started choosing people from the city randomly to be sacrificed to the dragon. One time, the king’s daughter was chosen. Despite the king’s offerings, no one accepted to take his daughter’s place. As she was about to be eaten by the dragon, Saint George arrived and gravely wounded the dragon. He put a girdle around the dragon’s head and led it back to the city. The king and the townspeople were amazed. He offered to kill the dragon if they all became Christians. More than 15,000 people and the king became Christians, and Saint George killed the dragon.
Every year on April 23 and September 24, huge crowds of Christians come to Aya Yorgi Church. It is accepted as one of the two pilgrimage points of Christians, besides the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus.
But why the 23 April and 24 September dates? In the Orthodox sect, April 23 is the St. George’s day. September 24 is the commemoration day of Aya Thekla, who devoted herself to the new religion of Jesus' apostle Paulus.
Those who come to Aya Yorgi Church come to pray and make a wish. They take off their shoes at the start of the road that leads to the church, grab a bell and never speak during the entire road. It is also believed that the wishes of those who tie ropes to the bushes and walk the road with a reel rope will come true. This uphill road is also known as the “path of torment”. This tradition is based on a religious story. According to this story, during the Byzantine era, the island was under siege of the Greeks. The priests wanted to save the icons and sacred objects in the church of Aya Yorgi, so they buried the objects in the ground. After many years, a shepherd in the island saw Aya Yorgi in his dream. In his dream, Aya Yorgi told the shepherd to climb the road that leads to the church and stop and dig when he hears bell sounds. After this dream repeated itself for a couple of days, the shepherd climbed the road to the church barefoot and never spoke along the way. When he got to the church, he heard bell sounds like Aya Yorgi said in his dream. He began digging and found the unscathed icons and the sacred objects buried in the ground. It is believed that those who manage to climb the “path of torment” barefoot without speaking are half-pilgrims.

Inside the Aya Yorgi Church

You will meet a lot of different people along the way, especially if you visit the church on 23 April or 24 September. People from different religions and nationalities come together to pray, meet each other and spend a good time. Even if you are not religious, it is hard not to get lost in the atmosphere of this place.
After a 15-minute long walk, you will arrive at the Buyukada Aya Yorgi Church. A sign on the front door reminds you to be silent and dress appropriately. Even though the church is not that big, there are many amazing icons, motifs, paintings, and religious monuments to be seen. The one that draws the most attention is the icon that shows Aya Yorgi killing the monster that’s coming out of the sea with his spear. Aya Yorgi’s own icon also attracts a lot of attention. People leave many different gifts, like flowers in front of this icon to thank Aya Yorgi.
Outside of the church, you will be mesmerized by the gorgeous view of the Marmara Sea. The main attraction here is the café that is next to the church, Yucetepe Kır Gazinosu. It is run by a local Turkish family and serves great food, along with one of the best views you can have in Istanbul.

How to Go to the Aya Yogi Church

You first have to go to Buyukada. Since the island is a pretty popular place, there are ferries that go there from many different stations across Istanbul, such as Besiktas, Bostancı, Sirkeci, Kartal, Buyuk Cekmece, Bakırkoy, Eminonu, Kadıkoy, Kabatas, Yalova, Avcılar, Karakoy, and Yesilkoy.
After you get to Buyukada, you will have to hire a bicycle to get to the church. Since it is on the highest hill on the island, almost every local knows its location, so you can ask around to find your way if you don’t have a princes islands tour guide.
You can visit the Aya Yogi Church every day of the week between 8.30 AM and 4 PM, except for Sundays between 9 AM and 12.15 PM, since it is the time of worship. The entrance to the church is also free for everyone.

The church you see now is not the original. Instead, it was rebuilt at least five times, the most notable of which occurred in the 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries. Theodore Metochites, a poet and man of letters who was logothetes, the official responsible for the Byzantine treasury, under Emperor Andronikos II (r 1282-1328), sponsored virtually all of the interior décor – the famed mosaics and the less famous but equally impressive murals. Theodore offers the church to Christ in one of the museum's most beautiful mosaics, which can be located above the entrance to the nave in the inner narthex.

The Architecture Of The Chora Church

The nave, the two-story building constructed to the north, the inner and outer narthexes, and the chapel for graves to the south are the five primary architectural sections of the Chora today. A second significant renovation began in 2013. The nave, two-story annexes on the northern side of the structure, and the majority of the inner narthex have been finished, while construction on the outer narthex and preclusion was beginning at the time of the study.

Mosaics representing the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary fill the majority of the interior. The Khalke Jesus, which depicts Christ and Mary with two donors: Prince Isaac Comnenos and Melane, daughter of Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, is a must-see. This is in the inner narthex, under the right dome. The Genealogy of Christ, a magnificent portrayal of Jesus and his forefathers, can be seen on the dome. A serenely gorgeous mosaic depicting Mary and the Baby Jesus Surrounded by Her Ancestors may be seen on the left dome of the narthex.

Three mosaics may be seen in the nave: Christ, Mary and the Baby Jesus, and the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin (Assumption) – Because it's above the main door you just entered, spin around to view it. The 'baby' that Jesus is holding is actually Mary's soul.

The parecclesion, a side chapel to the right of the nave, was created to house the tombs of the church's founder, his relatives, close friends, and collaborators. This is embellished with paintings showing episodes from the Old Testament that deal with death and resurrection. The Anastasis, a magnificent artwork in the apse, depicts a mighty Christ raising Adam and Eve from their sarcophagi, surrounded by saints and rulers. Under Christ's feet are shown the gates of hell. The murals covering the dome, which depict Mary and 12 accompanying angels, are less impressive but no less magnificent. The Last Judgement, painted in brilliant white with gilded accents on the ceiling between this dome and the apse, shows this scenario from the Book of Revelation, with the rolling up of heaven symbolized by a coiling pattern surrounded by the choirs of heaven.

The main philosophy of Turkish Empires who resided in the Anatolian region is compassion against others, which is why monuments of religions other than Islam have made it to this day on Turkey’s lands, the Chora Church being the best example. If you wish to see more examples of this, we recommend you to visit the Istanbul.com website