Turkey

Patriarch Daniel sends letter of solidarity to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew after quake shakes Turkey, Greece

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel expressed his grief over the losses suffered by Greece and Turkey after a powerful earthquake shook the neighbouring countries on Friday. His Beatitude sent a message of solidarity to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch Your Holiness, We learned with deep sorrow about the…

Oct 31, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Newly-discovered underwater ruins point to Christian past on Turkey’s Black Sea coast

The authorities of Ordu province, in northern Turkey, announced on Monday that experts from the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology found the ruins of a church on the bottom of Lake Gaga, submerged 15 meters below the surface. The age of these vestiges is yet to be determined. The 15-acre lake is the most important…

Oct 22, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

The curch submerged under the Iznik Lake becomes more visible after water level drops

The remains of a 1,500-year-old church dedicated to St Neophytos have become more visible after the water level of the Iznik Lake in Turkey dropped. Greek Reporter quotes Daily Sabah, announcing that draught and pollution reduction have contributed to a better sight of the ruins, now situated only 1.5-2 meters below water level. The building…

Oct 2, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Ecumenical Patriarch thanks Patriarch of Romania for solidarity over Hagia Sophia issue: ‘The Church of God’s Wisdom belongs to all humanity’

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Patriarch of Romania “from the depth of his heart” for the support expressed in the case of the Hagia Sophia Basilica following a decision of the Turkish authorities to transform it into a mosque after 86 years. “From the depth of our heart, we thank you for Your…

Aug 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archaeologists search for St Vlas’ tomb in Sivas, Turkey

Archaeologists dig for St Vlas’ tomb in Turkey. He was the Bishop of Sebasta in the IVth century and a martyr for Christ during the persecutions of emperors Diocletian and Licinius. In the Turkish province of Sivas, experts are digging to find St Vlas’ tomb, according to Daily Sabah. The Orthodox Church honors the saint…

Jun 24, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Trabzon’s famous Sümela Monastery opened

The first part of the picturesque Black Sea province of Trabzon’s great monument Sümela Monastery has been opened to visitors on May 25 following a four-year-long comprehensive restoration and rock improvement work, Hurriyet Daily News reports. Sümela Monastery, which is located on a steep and rocky area in the Karadağ Mountain in Altındere Valley and offers its guests a combination of nature,…

May 25, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

1,200-year-old Bible seized in southeastern Turkey’s Diyarbakır

Security forces on Tuesday seized a Bible said to be 1,200 years old in southeastern Turkey’s Diyarbakır province. According to the Diyarbakır governor’s office, local gendarmerie received intel that someone was looking to sell an ancient Bible manuscript written on leather with gold-encrusted motifs. Suspects were caught red-handed while trying to sell the 34-page manuscript,…

Feb 6, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch attends new Turkish airport inauguration

At the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew witnessed on Monday the inauguration of Istanbul’s new airport, on the 95th anniversary of the day when Turkey was declared a republic, marking the end of the Ottoman Empire. Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the…

Oct 31, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patronal Feast of the Romanian Orthodox Community of Turkey

On 8 May 2016, Sunday of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the church of “Saint Martyr Paraskevi” located in Haskoy district of Istanbul celebrated its second spiritual protector, Saint Neo-Martyr Argyra. A particle of the relics of Saint Argyra is kept in the church of the community of Orthodox Christians from Istanbul. Because the celebration day…

May 11, 2016Iulian Dumitraşcu