 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Est.203,500–370,000+[1][2][3][4] | |
| Religions | |
| Christianity (Catholic Church,Eastern Orthodox Church,Oriental Orthodoxy,Protestantism) | |
| Languages | |
| Arabic,Armenian,Bulgarian,Ecclesiastical Latin,English,Georgian,Greek (Liturgical),Korean,Persian,Russian,Syriac,Turkish,Ukrainian |
Religion in Turkey |
|---|
| Secularism in Turkey |
| Irreligion in Turkey |
Christianity inTurkey has a long history, dating back to theearly origins of Christianity inAsia Minor and theMiddle East during the1st century AD.[3] In modern times the percentage ofChristians in Turkey has declined from 20 to 25% in 1914, to about 2% in 1927, to 0.2–0.4% today.[5][6][7][8] Sources estimate that the Christian population in Turkey ranges between 203,500 and more than 370,000.[1][3][4][9] However, the exact number remains unclear due to the absence of a religious census in the country.[10] The percentage of Christians in Turkey fell mainly as a result of thelate Ottoman genocides:[19] theArmenian genocide,Greek genocide, andAssyrian genocide,[20] thepopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey,[11][17][21] theemigration of Christians that began in the late 19th century and gained pace in the first quarter of the 20th century,[17][22] and due to events such as the 1942Varlık Vergisi tax levied on non-Muslim citizens in Turkey and the 1955Istanbul pogrom against Greek and Armenian Christians.[17] Exact numbers are difficult to estimate,[10][23] as manyTurkishformer Muslimconverts to Christianity often hide their Christian faith for fear of familial pressure,religious discrimination, andpersecution.[11][24][25][26]
This was due to events which had a significant impact on the country's demographic structure, such as theFirst World War,[27] theanti-Christian genocides ofGreeks,Armenians, andAssyrians perpetrated byTurkish Muslims,[28] and thepopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey,[11][29] and theemigration ofpersecuted Christians (such asAssyrians,Greeks,Armenians, etc.) to foreign countries (mostly inEurope and theAmericas) that began in the late 19th century and gained pace in the first quarter of the 20th century, especially during World War I.[17][18][30] Signed after the First World War, theTreaty of Lausanne explicitly guarantees the security and protection of both Greek and ArmenianOrthodox Christian minorities. Their religious institutions are recognized officially by the Republic of Turkey.[31][32]
In 2011 according to thePew Research Center, there were more than 200,000-320,000 people of differentChristian denominations in Turkey,[33] representing roughly 0.3-0.4 percent of Turkey's population,[5] including an estimated 80,000 population ofOriental Orthodox Christians,[34] 47,000Turkish Orthodox Christians,[35][36] 35,000Roman Catholic Christians,[37] 18,000Antiochian Greeks,[38] 5,000Greek Orthodox Christians,[34] 8,000Protestant Christians, 4,994Jehovah's Witnesses,[39] and 512Mormons.[40] There is also a small group of ethnic Orthodox-Christian Turks (mostly living inIstanbul andİzmir) who follow the Greek Orthodox, Turkish Orthodox, orSyriac Orthodox churches, and additionally Protestant Turks who still face difficulties regarding social acceptance, and also historic claims to churches or property in the country because they areformer Muslimconverts to Christianity fromTurkish–Muslim background, rather thanethnic minorities.[24] EthnicallyTurkish Protestants number around 7,000–8,000.[41][42] In 2009, there were 236 Christian churches open for worship in Turkey.[43] TheEastern Orthodox Church has beenheadquartered in Constantinople since the 4th century AD.[44][45][24]
In 2020 theAnadolu Agency, a state-run news agency of the Turkish government, claimed that the number of Christians in Turkey was 180,854, which corresponds to 0.2% of the population.[46] In a 2022 report of theU.S. Department of State, Christians were seen as being 0.2% of the population.[47] The estimated number of adherents mainly refers toArmenian Orthodox Christians,Armenian Catholics,Chaldean Catholics,Eastern Catholics,Greek Orthodox Christians,Oriental Orthodox Christians,Protestants, andSyriac Orthodox Christians, as well as smaller groups.[47] It was noted that the number ofEastern Orthodox Christians had risen sharply, mainly due to refugees fromRussia andUkraine.[47] In 2024,Freedom House rated the country 2 out of 4 forreligious freedom; this was mainly due to disputes over land.[48] TheMor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox church, opened in October 2023, was the first church built since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.[49]
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TheChristianization of ancientAssyrians andArmenians most likely began around the1st century AD.[3] Thespread of Christianity beyondJerusalem is discussed in theBook of Acts.[50]
TheCappadocian Fathers produced some of the earliesthagiographies in the region. In addition to writings about femininevirtue byGregory of Nyssa andGregory of Nazianzos; later texts aboutNicholas of Sion andTheodore of Sykeon described miracles and rural life.[51]
The historicalregion of Syria became one of the main centers ofmiaphisite Christianity, embodied in theOriental Orthodoxy, which had accepted only the first threeecumenical councils:Nicaea (325),Constantinople (381) andEphesus (431). Miaphisite Christians were strongly opposed toChalcedonian Creed that had been established by theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451. In the 5th and 6th centuries, theSyriac Orthodox Church that originated inAntioch continued to fracture into multiple denominations.[52] Some Armenianmiaphysite Christians sought to reunite with Rome in later centuries, but their efforts were unsuccessful.[50]
Constantinople is generally considered to be the center and the "cradle of OrthodoxChristian civilization".[53][54] From the mid-5th century to the early 13th century, Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Europe.[55] The city became famous for its architectural masterpieces, such asHagia Sophia, the cathedral of theEastern Orthodox Church, which served as the seat of theEcumenical Patriarchate, the sacredImperial Palace where the Emperors lived, theHippodrome, theGolden Gate of the Land Walls, and opulent aristocratic palaces. TheUniversity of Constantinople was founded in the fifth century and contained artistic and literary treasures before it was sacked in 1204 and 1453,[56] including its vastImperial Library which contained the remnants of theLibrary of Alexandria and had 100,000 volumes.[57] The city was the home of theEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and guardian ofChristendom's holiest relics such as theCrown of thorns and theTrue Cross. During most of its existence, theByzantine Empire was one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe.[58] The imperial role in the affairs of the Church never developed into a fixed, legally defined system.[59] Additionally, due to the decline of Rome and internal dissension in the other Eastern Patriarchates, the Church of Constantinople became, between the 6th and 11th centuries, the richest and most influential centre ofChristendom.[60]
The Eastern Orthodox Church split from Rome during theGreat Schism of 1054. With the arrival of the crusaders many Orthodox bishops, particularly in Antioch, were replaced by Latinprelates. After theMongols defeated the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258, theArmenians andNestorians had decent relations with the conqueringIl-khans for a time, but by the end of the 14th-century many Syrian Orthodox and Nestorian churches were destroyed when theTurco-Mongolian rulerTemür raidedWest Asia.[50]
Two out of the five centers (Patriarchates) of the ancientPentarchy are in Turkey:Constantinople (Istanbul) andAntioch (Antakya). Antioch was also the place where the followers ofJesus were called "Christians" for the first time in history, as well as being the site ofone of the earliest and oldest surviving churches, established bySaint Peter himself. For a thousand years, theHagia Sophia was thelargest church in the world.
Turkey is also home to theSeven Churches of Asia, where theRevelation to John was sent.Apostle John is reputed to have takenVirgin Mary toEphesus in western Turkey, where she spent the last days of her life in a small house, known as theHouse 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 theSeven Sleepers is also located in Ephesus.
The death of theForty Martyrs of Sebaste (modern daySivas) is recorded as 320 AD during a persecution byEmperor Licinius. They are mentioned byBasil,Gregory of Nyssa,Ephrem the Syrian andJohn Chrysostom.[61]
In accordance with the traditional custom of the time, theOttoman sultanMehmed II allowed his troops and his entourage three full days of unbridled pillage and looting in the Christian city ofConstantinople, capital of theRoman Empire since its foundation by theRoman EmperorConstantine the Great in the 4th century AD, shortly after it was captured in 1453. Once the three days passed, he would then claim its remaining contents for himself.[62][63] However, by the end of the first day, he proclaimed that the looting should cease as he felt profound sadness when he toured the looted and enslaved city.[64][62] The cathedral ofHagia Sophia was not exempted from the pillage and looting and specifically became its focal point, as theOttoman Turks believed it to contain the greatest treasures and valuables of the city.[65] Shortly after the defence of theWalls of Constantinople, the city collapsed and the Ottoman troops entered victoriously; the pillagers and looters made their way to the Hagia Sophia and battered down its doors before storming in.[66]
Throughout the period of thesiege of Constantinople, the trapped Christian worshippers of the city participated in theDivine Liturgy and the Prayer of the Hours at theHagia Sophia and the church formed a safe-haven and a refuge for many of those who were unable to contribute to the city's defence, which comprised women, children, elderly, the sick, and the wounded.[67][68] Being trapped in the church, the many congregants and yet more refugees inside became spoils-of-war to be divided amongst the Ottoman invaders. The building was desecrated and looted, with the helpless occupants who sought shelter within the church beingenslaved.[65] While most of the elderly, the infirm/wounded, and sick were killed, and the remainder (mainly teenage males and young boys) werechained up and sold into slavery.[66]
The women of Constantinople also suffered fromrape andsexual violence at the hands of Ottoman forces.[69] According to historian Barbaro, "all through the day the Turks made a great slaughter of Christians through the city". According to historianPhilip Mansel, widespread persecution of the city's civilian inhabitants took place, resulting in thousands of murders and rapes, and 30,000 civilians being enslaved or forcibly deported.[70][71][72][73]George Sphrantzes says that people of both sexes were raped inside the church of Hagia Sophia.
The firstcapitulation concluded between the Ottoman Empire and a foreign state was that of 1535, granted to theKingdom of France.[74] The Ottoman Empire was then at the height its power, and theFrench kingFrancis I had shortly before sustained a disastrous defeat at theBattle of Pavia. His only hope of assistance lay in theOttoman sultanSuleiman I. The appeal to Suleiman on the ground of the common interest of the Kingdom of France and the Ottoman Empire in overcoming the power of theHoly Roman EmperorCharles V overweening power was successful; thus was established theFranco-Ottoman alliance, and in 1536 the capitulations were signed.[74] They amounted to a treaty of commerce and a treaty allowing the establishment of Christian Frenchmen in Ottoman Turkey and fixing the jurisdiction to be exercised over them:individual andreligious liberty was guaranteed to them, the King of France was empowered to appoint consuls in Ottoman Turkey, the consuls were recognized as competent to judge the civil and criminal affairs of French subjects in Ottoman Turkey according toFrench law, and the consuls may appeal to the officers of the sultan for their aid in the execution of their sentences.[74] This, the first of the capitulations, can be seen as the prototype of its successors.[74]
Anglican,American Presbyterian, and GermanLutheran missionaries arrived in theOttoman Empire in the 19th century.[50] During the same period, there were nationalistic campaigns against Assyrians which often had the assistance of Kurdish paramilitary support. In 1915, Turks and Kurds massacred tens of thousands Assyrians in Siirt. Assyrians were attacked in the Hakkari mountains by the Turkish army with the help of Kurdish tribes, and many Christians were deported and about a quarter million Assyrians were murdered or died due to persecution. This number doubles if the killings during the 1890s are included.[75] Kurds saw the Assyrians as dangerous foreigners and enforcers of the British colonizers, which made it justifiable to them to commit ethnic cleansing. The Kurds fought the Assyrians also due to fears that the Armenians, or European colonial powers backing them, would assume control in Anatolia.[76] Kurdish military plundered Armenian and other Christian villages.[76]
In the 1890s theHamidiye (Kurdishparamilitary units) attacked Armenians in a series of clashes that culminated in theHamidian massacres of 1894-1896 and theAdana massacre in 1909. It is estimated that between 80,000 and 300,000 Armenians were killed during these pre-War massacres.[3][77][78][79] Into the 19th century, the Christians of Istanbul tended to be eitherGreek Orthodox, members of theArmenian Apostolic Church or CatholicLevantines.[80]
During the tumultuous period of theFirst World War, up to 3 million indigenous Christians are alleged to have been killed. Prior to this time, the Christian population stood at around 20% -25% of the total. According to professorMartin van Bruinessen, relations between Christians and Kurdish and other Muslim peoples were often bitter and during World War I "Christians of Tur Abdin (in Turkey) for instance have been subjected to brutal treatment by Kurdish tribes, who took their land and even their daughters".[83]
Kurdish-dominated Hamidiye slaughtered Christian Armenians in Tur Abdin region in 1915.[84] It is estimated that ten thousand Assyrians were killed, and reportedly "the skulls of small children were smashed with rocks, the bodies of girls and women who resisted rape were chopped into pieces live, men were mostly beheaded, and the clergy skinned or burnt alive...."[84] In 1915, Turks and Kurds plundered the Assyrian village of Mar-Zaya in Jelu and slaughtered the population, it is estimated that 7,000 Assyrians were slaughtered during this period. In September 1914 more than 30 Armenian and Assyrian villages were burnt by Kurdish and Turkish mobs in the Urmia region.[84] After the Russian army retreated, Turkish troops with Kurdish detachments organized mass slaughters of Assyrians, in the Assyrian village ofHaftvan 750 men were beheaded and 5,000 Assyrian women were taken to Kurdish harems.[84] Turks and Kurds also slaughtered Christians in Diarbekir. There was a policy during the Hamidian era to use Kurdish tribes as irregulars (Hamidiye units) against the Armenians.[84][85][86][87]
The Greek forces whooccupied Smyrna in the post-war period were defeated in theTurkish War of Independence which ended with the signing of theTreaty of Lausanne. Under theterms of the peace treaty, 1.3 million Christian residents of Turkey were relocated to Greece and around 400,000 Muslims were likewise moved from Greece to Turkey. When the Turkish state was founded in 1923 the remaining Greek population was estimated to be around 111,000; the Greek Orthodox communities in Istanbul,Gökçeada, andBozcaada numbering 270,000 were exempted. Other terms of the treaty included various provisions to protect the rights of religious minorities and a concession by the Turks to allow the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate to remain in Istanbul.[88]
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TheBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported in 2014 that the Christian population of Turkey had declined from 20% to 0.2% since 1914.[89]
TheU.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) designated Turkey a "Country of Particular Concern" forreligious freedom, noting "systematic limitations on the freedom of religion or belief" with respect to access to places of worship, religious education, and right to trainclergy. The report does note some areas of improvement such as better protection of theproperty rights ofNon-Muslims.[90]
In the pre-war period,ProtestantChristian missionaries fromNorth America had been actively involved in theOttoman education system. Many of the schools were closed down and suffered under stringent regulations and burdensome taxes during thesecularization of Turkey. Historically, these schools had worked with theChristian communities in the Ottoman Empire, and were regarded with suspicion by thefledgling republic.[91]
In 2001, Turkey'sNational Security Council (MGK) reported that it considersProtestantChristian missionaries the third largest threat to Turkey's national security, surpassed only byIslamic fundamentalism and theKurdish separatist organizationKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). A 2004 report by theTurkish Armed Forces (TAF) similarly recommended implementing new laws to curb Christian missionary activities in the country. According to the Turkish Evangelical Churches movement, Turkish Protestant churches had only 3,000 members in 2009—about half of these wereformer Muslimconverts to Christianity, while the others were Christian converts fromArmenian Orthodox andSyriac Christian churches.[92] SinceTurkish nationality was often perceived exclusively as a Muslim identity after theBalkan Wars, the influence of Protestant Christian missionaries on Turkey'sAlevi population has been a concern since the era ofCommittee of Union and Progress rule.[92][93] In 2016, the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey released a report warning of an increase inanti-Christianhate speech.[94]
Historically, the Christian population of Turkey has been largely peaceful and non-disruptive, with the notable exception of oneformer Muslimconvert to Christianity who hijacked theTurkish Airlines Flight 1476 in 2006 with the stated intent of flying it tothe Vatican to meet thePope and ask for his help toavoid serving in the Turkish Armed Forces, which he referred to as a "Muslim army".[95]
In 2013, theWashington Post reported that members of the rulingJustice and Development Party had expressed their desires to convertHagia Sophia into a mosque. Hagia Sophia, which is calledayasofya inTurkish, is an ancient Christian church dating to 360 AD that was converted into a mosque afterMehmed II invadedConstantinople in 1453. It has been a museum since 1935.Patriarch Bartholomew objected to the government's rhetoric, saying "If it is to reopen as a house of worship, then it should open as a Christian church."[96] Also in 2013, the government announced that the 5th-centuryMonastery of Stoudios, located in Istanbul'sSamatya neighborhood, would be converted into a mosque. The monastery, one ofByzantium's most important, was sacked during theCrusades and later served as a mosque for a time, until it was converted to a museum during the 20th century.[97][98][99]
Today, the Christian population of Turkey is estimated at 203,500–370,000 Christians.[2][3][4][34][100] 35,000Catholics of varying ethnicities, 25,000 ethnic "Assyrians" (Turkish:Süryaniler), (mostly followers of theSyriac Orthodox Church,Syriac Catholic Church, theChurch of the East, and theChaldean Catholic Church),[101] 3,000–4,000Greek Orthodox,[100] 15,000–18,000Antiochian Greeks[102] and smaller numbers ofBulgarians,Georgians, andProtestant Christians of various ethnicities. Moreover, there is anethnic TurkishProtestant Christian community in Turkey which number about 7,000–8,000 adherents;[42][41] most of these Christian converts are fromTurkish–Muslim background.[103][104][105] In 2003, the mainstream Turkish newspaperMilliyet reported that 35,000Turkishformer Muslimshad converted to Christianity.[23] According toBekir Bozdağ,Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, there were 349 active churches in Turkey in October 2012: 140Greek, 58Assyrian, and 52Armenian.[106] In 2015, theTurkish government gave permission for the Christian channel SAT-7 to broadcast on the government-regulatedTürksat satellite.[107]
Since theestablishment of the modern Republic of Turkey in 1923, a number of high-profile incidents targetingNon-Muslims, includingChristians, have occurred.[3] This includes theIstanbul pogrom of 1955, where non-Muslims were attacked and killed, as well as more recent attacks, such as theassassination of prominent Turkish–Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, thetorture and murder of one German Protestant and two Turkish converts to Christianity in what Turkish media dubbed "the missionary massacres" in the same year,[108][109] and the killings of Italian Catholic priests, includingAndrea Santoro, in 2006 and 2007. In January 2024, two gunmen fatally shot a man during a church service in Istanbul in an attack claimed by theIslamic State (Daesh).[110]
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The largest Christian population in Turkey is located inIstanbul, which has a large community of Armenians and Greeks. Istanbul is also where the Patriarchate ofGreek Orthodox Christianity is located.Antioch, located in Turkey'sHatay province, is the original seat of the namesakeAntiochian Orthodox Church, but is now thetitular see. The area, known for having ethnic diversity and large Christian community, has 7,000 Christians and 14 active churches. The city has one of the oldest churches in the world as well, called theChurch of St Peter, which is said to have been founded bythe Saint himself.[111]
TheSyriac Orthodox Church has a strong presence inMardin; manyAssyrian Christians left during thelate Ottoman genocides in 1915.[112]Tur Abdin is a large area with a multitude of mostlySyriac Orthodox churches, monasteries, and ruins. Settlements in Tur Abdin includeMidyat. The Christian community in Midyat is supplemented by arefugee community from Syria and has four operating churches.[113] Some of the most significant Syriac churches and monasteries in existence are in or near Midyat includingMor Gabriel Monastery and theSaffron Monastery.
By the 21st century,Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey had declined to only around 2,000–3,000.[88] There are between 40,000 and 70,000Armenian Orthodox Christians in Turkey.[3] By some estimates, in the early 2000s there were between 10,000 and 20,000 Catholics and Protestants in Turkey.[114] Since the 1960s,a growing number of Turkish former Muslimsare converting to Christianity;[23] estimates range from 4,000 to 35,000 by various sources.[23][115][116][117]
Martin Kmetec, aConventual Franciscan friar and currentArchbishop of İzmir, stated in an interview withAid to the Church in Need thatecumenical relations between Christians are generally good in the country: "In general, our relations with other Christian churches are good. TheEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople,Bartholomew I, for example, has a good relationship with theFocolare Movement and the newApostolic Vicar of Istanbul, Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro. Likewise, here inİzmir we get together with theOrthodox Christians, but also with theAnglicans, on various Christian feast days.Armenian priests recently celebrated anArmenian liturgy at our Catholic Church of St. Polycarp because they do not have their own church in İzmir. We also worked together with theArmenians in İzmir to open a small book shop for theBible Society. These are promising signs of an ecumenical dialogue."[118]
TheArmenian Apostolic Church traces its origins toSt. Gregory the Illuminator who is credited with having introduced the Armenian kingTiridates III to Christianity. It is one of the most ancient churches established in theCaucasus andEastern Anatolia.[3] Historically, the Armenian Church accepted only the first threeEcumenical Councils, rejecting theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451 AD; itsChristology is sometimes described as "non-Chalcedonian" for this reason. The Bible was first translated into theArmenian language byMesrop Mashtots.[119][114] TheArmenian Christian community in Turkey is led by the Armenian Patriarchates ofIstanbul andJerusalem. As of 2008[update] estimates of Turkey's Armenian Orthodox population range from between 50,000 and 70,000.[114]
There are 35 churches maintained by the religious foundation in Istanbul and its surrounding areas. Besides Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church (translation: the Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Patriarchal Church) in Kumkapi, Istanbul, there are tens of Armenian Apostolic churches. There are other churches inKayseri,Diyarbakır,Derik,İskenderun, andVakifli Koyu that are claimed by foundations as well. Around 1,000 Armenian churches throughout Turkey sit on public or privately owned land as well, with them all either being re-purposed or abandoned and/or in ruins.
TheAutocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate (Turkish:Bağımsız Türk Ortodoks Patrikhanesi), also referred to as the Turkish Orthodox Church, is an unrecognizedEastern Orthodox Christian denomination based in Turkey. It was founded inKayseri byPavlos Karahisarithis, a supporter of theGeneral Congregation of the Anatolian Turkish Orthodox (Turkish:Umum Anadolu Türk Ortodoksları Cemaatleri), in 1922.[121] Pavlos Karahisarithis became thePatriarch of this new Orthodox church, and took the name of Papa Eftim I. He was supported by 72 other Turkish Orthodox clerics.[122]
The start of the Patriarchate can be traced to theGreco-Turkish War (1919–1922). In 1922 a pro-TurkishEastern Orthodox group, the General Congregation of the Anatolian Turkish Orthodox, was set up with the support from the Orthodox bishop ofHavza, as well as a number of other congregations[123] representing a genuine movement among the Turkish-speaking, Orthodox Christian population ofAnatolia[121] who wished to remain both Orthodox and Turkish.[124] There were calls to establish a newPatriarchate with Turkish as the preferred language ofChristian worship.[125]
In 1924, Karahisarithis started to conduct theChristian liturgy inTurkish, and quickly won support from theestablishment of the modern Republic of Turkey, formed after thedefeat and dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (1908–1922).[126] He claimed that theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was ethnically centered and favored the Greek population. Beingexcommunicated by theGreek Orthodox Church for claiming to be a bishop while still having a wife and due to the fact that married bishops are not allowed inEastern Orthodoxy, Karahisarithis, who later changed his name into Zeki Erenerol, called a Turkish ecclesiastical congress, which elected him Patriarch in 1924.
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Constantinople was dedicated as the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD and served as the capital of theEastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire from the empire's definitive division in 395 until 1453. The city's see was elevated in theecclesiastical hierarchy by theFirst Council of Constantinople in 381, which decreed in its third canon that the Bishop of Constantinople should have the "prerogative of honor" after the Bishop of Rome because the city was the "New Rome." The traditional apostolic origin of the Patriarchate is traced toSt. Andrew, a claim that gained prominence in later centuries. The first historically attested bishops who oversaw the see's rise to prominence wereMetrophanes andAlexander of Constantinople, who held the office before and during the city's imperial refoundation.
At theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451, Constantinople's status was expanded. Canon 28 granted it jurisdiction over several metropolitan sees and "equal privileges" to Old Rome, a canon the papacy did not accept. Following the council's condemnation ofMonophysitism, the popes in Rome and the patriarchs of Constantinople were often aligned in the ensuing theological disputes with the Patriarchate of Alexandria, a major center of Monophysite belief. The doctrine of thePentarchy, which conceived of the universal church as governed by the five patriarchs of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, was first given legal expression in the 6th-century legislation of EmperorJustinian I. This concept, which formalized the existing administrative structure of the church, was later used as an ecclesiological model in opposition to Roman claims of universal jurisdiction.[127]
During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Byzantine Empire experienced theIconoclastic Controversy, a prolonged theological conflict over the veneration of religious images.[128] The 9th century also saw thePhotian schism, a conflict that began with a dispute over the patriarchal see betweenIgnatios andPhotios I but expanded to include major canonical and theological issues, including papal jurisdictional claims in the Balkans and the Western addition of theFilioque clause to theNicene Creed.[129][130]
The primary Eucharistic service of the Byzantine Rite is theDivine Liturgy. The rite also includes a cycle of daily non-Eucharistic services known as theDaily Office or Horologion, analogous to theDivine Office in the Latin Rite.[131] The Byzantine Rite is used for the administration of theHoly Mysteries (sacraments), which includeBaptism,Chrismation,Holy Communion (the Eucharist, understood as the most direct union with Christ),confession,unction,matrimony, andordination. Other rites, such asblessings andexorcisms, are also performed.[132] The two primary Eucharistic liturgies are theDivine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and theDivine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, so named because their centralanaphoras are attributed to these saints.[132] A third service, theLiturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, is avesperal service celebrated on weekdays during Great Lent; it is not a full Divine Liturgy as it lacks an anaphora and distributes communion from elements consecrated at a previous liturgy.
TheCatholic Church in Turkey is composed of jurisdictions of theLatin,Armenian,Chaldean, andByzantine rites. The schism between theArmenian Apostolic Church and the churches of Rome and Byzantium developed gradually after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD over Christological disputes, with the separation being formalized in the 6th century. Over subsequent centuries, a number of Armenian Christians entered into communion with the Catholic Church, forming theArmenian Catholic Church. In 1829, SultanMahmud II formally recognized the Armenian Catholics as a distinctmillet, granting them civil and legal autonomy from theArmenian Apostolic Patriarchate. This act allowed for the establishment of a separate ecclesiastical administration in Constantinople, which officially became the see of theArmenian Catholic Patriarchate in 1866.[133][134]
TheSyriac Orthodox Church, that follows theWest Syriac Rite, was present in various southeastern regions of modern Turkey since theearly medieval times. Since the 12th century, the patriarchal seat itself was transferred toMor Hananyo Monastery (Deir al-Za`faran), in southeasternAnatolia nearMardin (modern Turkey), where it remained until 1924. In modern times, active churches are located inIstanbul,Diyarbakır,Adıyaman, andElazığ.[135] There are many both active and inactive churches in the traditionally Assyrian area ofTur Abdin, which is a region centered in the western area ofMardin Province, and has areas that go intoŞırnak, andBatman Province. Up until the 1980s the Syriac population was concentrated there as well, but a large amount of the population has fled the region to Istanbul or abroad due to theKurdish-Turkish conflict. The Church structure is still organized however, with 12 reverends stationed in churches and monasteries there.[136] Churches were also in several other provinces as well, but during theSeyfo the churches in those churches were destroyed or left ruined.
In modern times, Syriac Orthodox Church hase these provinces in Turkey:[137]
HistoricalChurch of the East, that followed theEast Syriac Rite, was present in various southeastern regions of modern Turkey throughoutmedieval andearly modern times, and the continuation of that presence is embodied in the modernAssyrian Church of the East, and theAncient Church of the East. Ecclesiastical structure of East Syriac Christianity in the region was almost completely wiped out in theAssyrian genocide. Originally, one of its main centers was in the region ofHakkari, in the village ofQodchanis, that was the seat of Shimun-line patriarchs from the 17th century up to the advent of modern times. Patriarch MarDinkha IV of the Assyrian Church of the East visited Turkey in 2012.[138]
Armenian Protestants own 3 churches in Istanbul since the 19th century.[139] There is an Alliance of Protestant Churches in Turkey.[140] There are Protestant churches for foreigners in compounds and resorts, although they are not counted in lists of churches as they are used only by tourists and expatriates.
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Anglicans in Turkey form part of the Eastern Archdeaconry of theDiocese of Gibraltar in Europe. In 2008 the Anglican bishop of Europe,Geoffrey Rowell, caused controversy by ordaining a local man to minister to Turkish-speaking Anglicans in Istanbul.[141]
TheArmenian Evangelical Church was founded in 1846, after Patriarch Matteos Chouhajian excommunicated members of the "Pietisical Union" who had started to raise questions about a possible conflicts between theBiblical scriptures andSacred traditions.[133] The new church was recognized by the Ottoman government in 1850 after encouragement from the British AmbassadorHenry Wellesley Cowley.[142] There were reportedly 15 Turkish converts in Constantinople in 1864. One church minister said "We wanted the Turks first to become Armenian". Hagop A. Chakmakjian commented that "the implication was that to be Christian meant to be identified with the Armenian people".[143]
Recognizing that present-dayEphesus of theNew Testament endowed Turkey with historical importance, early leaders of theLDS Church preached inOttoman Turkey in 1850, and—with the help of British LDS soldiers—organized a congregation inIstanbul in 1854.[144] In 1979, anotherlocal community of LDS adherents was organized inAnkara.[144]
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| Church 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 Evangelist Armenian Church (Gedikpaşa, Istanbul) Surp Hovhannes Ermeni Kilisesi | active | |
| 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 Armenian Church (Kınalıada, Istanbul) 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 | |
| Church of St. George of Samatya (Samatya, Istanbul) Surp Kevork Kilisesi | active | |
| St. Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır) Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi | _(3).JPG) | active |
| Vakıflı Church Vakıflıköy Ermeni Kilisesi | | active |
| Cathedral of Kars |  | converted into a mosque |
| Narekavank |  | destroyed, mosque built on the site |
| Cathedral of Ani |  | UNESCOWorld Heritage Site |
| Virgin Mary Church,Kayseri |  | museum (converted into a library) |
| St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (Uskudar) | unknown | |
| Ktuts Monastery |  | abandoned |
| Cathedral of Mren |  | ruins |
| Holy Apostles Monastery | .png) | ruins |
| Horomos |  | ruins |
| Karmravank | .JPG) | ruins |
| Kaymaklı Monastery | ruins | |
| Khtzkonk Monastery | ruins | |
| Varagavank |  | ruins |
| Saint Bartholomew Monastery |  | ruins |
| St. Marineh Church, Mush | ruins | |
| Saint Karapet Monastery |  | destroyed, village built on the site |
| St. Stepanos Church |  | destroyed |
| Tekor Basilica |  | destroyed |
| Vank Church inŞenkaya | destroyed by treasure hunters in 2021[145] |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Church of St. George, Istanbul |  | active |
| Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Istanbul) |  | active |
| Church of St. Mary of the Mongols |  | active |
| İskenderun St. Nicholas Church[146] |  | damaged due to2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake |
| Mersin Orthodox Church |  | active |
| Church of St. Kyriaki, Istanbul |  | active |
| Meryem Ana Church | | active |
| Bulgarian St. Stephen Church | | active |
| St. Demetrius Church inFeriköy,Istanbul |  | active |
| Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church inBeyoğlu,Istanbul |  | active |
| Panayia Evangelistria inBeyoğlu,Istanbul |  | active. Built in 1893.[147] |
| Saint Andrew in Krisei |  | converted into a mosque |
| Chora Church | | converted into a mosque |
| Church of Christ Pantokrator (Constantinople) |  | converted into the Zeyrek Mosque |
| Church of Christ Pantepoptes (Constantinople) |  | converted into a mosque |
| Monastery of Gastria |  | converted into a mosque |
| Hagia Sophia |  | converted into a mosque |
| Church of the Holy Apostles | demolished,Fatih Mosque built on top | |
| Church of Saint John the Baptist at Lips (Constantinople) |  | converted into a mosque |
| Monastery of Stoudios | _Monastery.jpg) | to be converted into a mosque |
| Church of Saint John the Baptist en to Trullo (Constantinople) |  | converted into a mosque |
| 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 |
| Saint Irene church |  | converted into a mosque |
| Church of Vefa |  | converted into a mosque |
| Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora |  | converted into a mosque |
| 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 Saint Thomas |  | converted into a mosque |
| Church of the Theotokos Kyriotissa (Constantinople) |  | converted into a mosque |
| Nakip Mosque | converted into a mosque | |
| Hagios Eugenios Church |  | converted into a mosque |
| Panagia Chrysokephalos Church |  | converted into a mosque |
| Virgin Mary Church |  | converted into a mosque |
| Hagia Sophia, Trabzon |  | converted into a mosque |
| Hagia Sophia, İznik |  | converted into a mosque |
| Church of Christ and Saint Stephen |  | converted into a mosque |
| Toklu Dede Mosque | converted into a mosque (before was a church of unknown dedication) | |
| Alâeddin Mosque |  | converted into a mosque (before was a basilica of unknown dedication) |
| Saint Paul Cathedral |  | converted into a mosque |
| Aya Panagia Greek Church (Yaman Dede Mosque),Talas,Kayseri |  | converted into a mosque |
| St. Gregory of Nazianzos Church, (Kilise Camii),Güzelyurt,Aksaray. |  | converted into a mosque |
| Hagia Irene |  | museum |
| Sümela Monastery |  | museum |
| Virgin Mary Monastery | museum | |
| House of the Virgin Mary |  | museum |
| Church of St Nicholas of Myra(Santa Claus) (Demre) |  | ruins, museum |
| Taşbaşı Church, Ordu province |  | museum |
| Saint John's Church, Gülşehir | museum | |
| Saint Michael Church inAkçaabat | now used for social and cultural activities and museum by theTurkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, built in 1332[148] | |
| Saint Voukolos Church |  | now used for social and cultural activities |
| Kuruköprü Monumental Church |  | museum |
| Saint Paul's Church, Tarsus |  | museum |
| Ayazma Church (Faneromeni Church) inAyvalık | After Greeks left in 1925 due to thePopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey, it turned into an olive oil factory, for a period, and because of that the interior of the building changed. There are plans to be turned into a museum. | |
| Church of St. Polyeuctus |  | archaeological site |
| Church of St. George between Güzelöz and Başköy inYeşilhisar | archaeological site.[149] | |
| Aya Maryeros Underground Monastery inDerinkuyu District | archaeological site. 4th century monastery.[150] | |
| Zelve Monastery | archaeological site. | |
| Balatlar Church |  | archaeological site Originally built as a Roman Imperial bath in the 2nd century, was converted into a church in the late 4th or early 5th century.[151] |
| Church of the ancient city ofLystra | archaeological site. Archaeologists have unearthed the main church of the ancient city of Lystra during excavations.[152] | |
| Unknown church inİnkaya, Kulp | archaeological site. In 2025, archaeologists uncovered a church which is believed to date back to the reign of Roman EmperorConstantius II. Excavations, which began in 2021, have revealed numerous graves and artifacts. The discoveries confirm that the Byzantine Empire maintained a strong and lasting presence beyond theEuphrates and that Christianity had taken root in the area much earlier than previously believed. Researchers expect further discoveries that could push the church's history even further back.[153] | |
| Monastery complex inAksu district | archaeological site. Ruins of a large monastery complex in front of Zindan Cave. In the complex, there is a basilica-style structure dating back to the late 5th century A.D. Despite damage from a fire, the site was never fully abandoned, a smaller chapel was later built inside the original church. Traces of late-period frescoes suggest continued sacred use over time.[154] | |
| Church of St. Jean atAyasuluk Hill | archaeological site. The current building dates back to theEmperor Justinian I, but there was a church building even before that.[155] | |
| Church of the Apostles atAnazarbus | archaeological site.[156] | |
| Churches of Göreme | archaeological sites. InGöreme atCappadocia there are a lot of old Greek churches. | |
| Basilica of St. John |  | archaeological site |
| Çanlı Kilise |  | archaeological site |
| Cave monastery of İnceğiz | .jpg) | archaeological site |
| Gümüşler Monastery |  | archaeological site |
| Eskigümüş Monastery | archaeological site | |
| 35 churches and chapels in caves at theAyazini | archaeological site[157] | |
| Church on theKüçük Tavşan Adası | archaeological site. A church of the6th century.[158][159] | |
| Selime Cathedral at theIhlara Valley inCappadocia |  | archaeological site[160] |
| Virgin Mary Church at theIhlara Valley inCappadocia | archaeological site[161] | |
| Chapel atBağcılar | archaeological site. In 2023, a Greek chapel has been discovered at Bağcılar inIstanbul.[162] | |
| Underwater basilica inIznik Lake | archaeological site. It was built sometime after 390 AD and destroyed in a big earthquake in 1065.[163] | |
| Saint George Church atDiyarbakır | built around 200 AD, now an art gallery[164] | |
| Bodrum Aya Nikola Church [tr] | .jpg) | museum |
| Saint Analipsis Church (Yüksek Kilise),Aksaray |  | museum |
| Niğde Prodromos Church |  | museum |
| St. Theodore Church (Üzümlü Kilise),Derinkuyu | .jpg) | museum |
| Panagia Theoskepastos Monastery, Trabzon |  | archaeological site. |
| Saint Anne Church, Trabzon |  | museum |
| Jason Church |  | museum |
| Vazelon Monastery |  | archaeological site. |
| Meryem Ana Monastery | archaeological site. | |
| Sinope Koimesis Church |  | archaeological site. |
| Çakırkaya Monastery, Gümüşhane[165] | museum.[166] | |
| Üzümlü Church | museum. | |
| Church within Kaymakli/Anakou Underground City | museum. | |
| Hagia Triada Church, Ayvalık | ongoing restoration. | |
| Church of St. John, Tirilye | transferred to private property after the Greek population was expelled in 1923 and now is a residence | |
| St. Basil's Church, Tirilye | became a Stone School (being used for the workshops for carpentry and iron works) and the "Dündar House" (used as a mess house) | |
| Palace of Antiochos | a hotel is on top of the ruins but some traces of the palace can be seen under a glass floor at the dining hall. | |
| Niğde Küçükköy Church |  | abandoned |
| Saint Mary of Constantinople |  | ruins, converted into a mosque in 1640 |
| Church of the Virgin of the Pharos | ruins | |
| Kuştul Monastery |  | ruins |
| Göreği Monastery, Fatsa district | ruins | |
| Pavrezi Chapel, Gümüşhane[165] | ruins | |
| Hagios Georgios Monastery, Gümüşhane[165] | ruins | |
| Panagia Monastery, Gümüşhane[165] | ruins | |
| Seven or more ruined churches in Santa[167] | ruins | |
| Kamışlı Kilisesi/Çakrak Church, Alucra district | ruins | |
| Üçayak Byzantine Church | .jpg) | ruins |
| Hasanaliler Church |  | ruins |
| Hodegon Monastery | ruins | |
| Pelekete Monastery | ruins | |
| Medikion Monastery | ruins | |
| Batheos Rhyakos Monastery | ruins, some buildings are used as animal shelters | |
| Kaman Demirli Church (Kilise Kalıntıları),Kaman |  | ruins of unknown dedication. |
| Saint Demetrius Monastery onCunda Island | ruins, built in 1766 destroyed by treasure hunters in 2020[168] | |
| Saint Georgios Church inNilüfer, Bursa | ruins, built in 1896 and fell down in 2020, because it was neglected[169] | |
| Hutura Hagios Monastery Church inGümüşhane | ruins, built in the 14th century, it is often plundered by treasure hunters. The library of the monastery is also destroyed.[170] | |
| St. Yuannis Church (Aziz Yuannis Kilisesi) orSt. John the Russian Church,Ürgüp | ruins | |
| St. Spyridon Church (Kizil Kilise),Güzelyurt. |  | ruins |
| Chapel at Fethiye Castle | unearthed during the excavations at Fethiye Castle. Dates back to the Middle Byzantine period. Excavations conducted within and around the chapel uncovered multiple graves dating back to the Byzantine era.[171] | |
| Saint Gregory of Nyssa Church, Trabzon | .jpg) | destroyed |
| Heliou Bomon monastery | destroyed |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Church of Santa Maria, Trabzon | active | |
| Virgin Mary Latin Catholic Church (Tubini Şapeli), Kadıköy | active | |
| Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul |  | active |
| St. Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul |  | active |
| Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun |  | damaged due to2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake |
| Church of St. Anthony, Mersin | .jpg) | active |
| St. John's Cathedral, İzmir | | active |
| Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul |  | active |
| Church of Saint Benoit, Istanbul |  | active |
| Church of St. Mary Draperis, Istanbul |  | active |
| Saint Paul Church, Adana |  | active |
| St. Mary's Church, İzmir |  | active |
| St. Térèse Church, Ankara |  | active |
| St. George's Catholic Church |  | active[172] |
| Notre-Dame de L'Assomption, İstanbul |  | active |
| Church of San Domenico (Constantinople) | | converted into a mosque |
| Church of St Peter |  | museum |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Istanbul (Bomonti Gürcü Katolik Kilisesi) |  | active |
| Khakhuli Monastery (Haho/Bağbaşı) |  | converted into a mosque |
| Doliskana (Dolishane/Hamamlıköy) |  | converted into a mosque |
| Ishkhani (İşhan) |  | protected (since 1987)[174] |
| Parkhali (Barhal/Altıparmak) |  | protected[175] |
| Oshki (Öşki Manastırı/Öşk Vank/Çamlıyamaç) |  | protected |
| Otkhta Eklesia (Dörtkilise) |  | abandoned |
| Khandzta | .JPG) | ruins |
| Ekeki | .jpg) | ruins |
| Parekhi |  | ruins |
| Makriali St. George church,Kemalpaşa, Artvin |  | ruins |
| St. Barlaam Monastery (Barlaham Manastırı),Yayladağı | ruins | |
| Ancha monastery |  | ruins |
| Okhvame,Ardeşen |  | ruins |
| Tskarostavi monastery |  | ruins |
| Bana cathedral (Penek) |  | ruins |
| Tbeti Monastery (Cevizli) |  | ruins |
| old Georgian Church,Ani |  | ruins |
| Opiza |  | ruins |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Christ Church, Istanbul | | active |
| St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, İzmir |  | active |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Buca Protestant Baptist Church[TR] |  | active |
| Kreuzkirche, İstanbul[DE] | %2c_Istanbul_(1).JPG) | active |
| Samsun Protestant Church |  | active |
| Church of the Resurrection, İzmir |  | active |
| All Saints' Church, Moda |  | active |
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mor Sharbel Syriac Orthodox church inMidyat |  | active |
| Mor Gabriel Monastery |  | active |
| Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church,Yeşilköy, Istanbul |  | active[176] |
| Mor Hananyo Monastery |  | active |
| Mor Yuhanna Monastery inEğil | museum[177] | |
| Zuqnin Monastery | ||
| Mor Kiryakus Monastery inBeşiri District | museum[178] |
More tangibly, figures published in January 2004 in Turkey's mainstreamMilliyet newspaper claimed that 35,000Muslims, the vast majority of them inIstanbul, hadconverted to Christianity in 2003. While impossible to confirm (theTurkish government does not release these figures), the rate of conversion, according to Christian leaders in Turkey, is on the rise.
Constantinople has been the seat of an archiepiscopal see since the fourth century; its ruling hierarch has had the title of"Ecumenical Patriarch" ...
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is the ranking church within the communion of ... Between the 4th and 15th centuries, the activities of the patriarchate took place within the context of an empire that not only was ...
The vast majority of the ordinary citizens - about 30,000 - were marched off to the slave markets of Edirne, Bursa and Ankara.
Some 30,000 Christians were either enslaved or sold.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911b). "Capitulations".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 283–284.The estimated number of Protestants in Turkey is 4,000–6,000, most of whom live in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. Protestantism has been a part of Turkey's history for 200 years, first spreading among the non-Muslim minorities. Conversion from Islam to Protestantism was very rare until the 1960s, but Muslim converts currently constitute the majority of Protestants.
a number that vastly exceeds the size of present-day Turkish-speaking Protestant churches, of whose 3,000 members are converts from Islam
The liberal newspaper Radikal estimates that there are about 10,000 converts in Turkey, expressing surprise that they could be seen as a "threat" in a country of 73 million people, 99 percent of whom are Muslim.
| Topics | |
|---|---|
| Census in Turkey | |
| Lists | |
