Christianity in Turkey

Greek-Orthodox metropolises in Asia Minor, c. 1880.

Christianity has a long history in Anatolia (Asia Minor) and Armenian Highland (now part of Turkey), which is the birthplace of numerous Christian Apostles and Saints, such as Paul of Tarsus, Timothy, Nicholas of Myra, Polycarp of Smyrna and many others.

The percentage of Christians in Turkey fell from 19 percent in 1914 to 2.5 percent in 1927,[1] due to events which had a significant impact on the country's demographic structure, such as the Armenian Genocide, the population exchange between Greece and Turkey,[2] and the emigration of Christians (such as Levantines, Greeks, Armenians etc.) to foreign countries (mostly in Europe and the Americas) that actually began in the late 19th century and gained pace in the first quarter of the 20th century, especially during World War I and after the Turkish War of Independence.[3] Today there are more than 160,000 people of different Christian denominations, representing less than 0.2 percent of Turkey's population,[4] including an estimated 80,000 Oriental Orthodox,[5] 35,000 Roman Catholics,[6] 18,000 Antiochian Greeks,[7] 5,000 Greek Orthodox[5] and smaller numbers of Protestants (Mostly ethnic Turkish) There is also a small group of ethnic Orthodox-Christian Turks (mostly living in Istanbul or Izmir) who follow the Greek Orthodox or Syrian Orthodox church. They are often confused with ethnic Greeks. Some of them actually have a Greek background, but there are ethnic Turks, who never converted to Islam in the history between this population.[8] Currently there are 236 churches open for worship in Turkey.[9] The Eastern Orthodox Church has been led by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, still based in the city which the Turks call Istanbul, since the 4th century.[10][11]

Brief description

Two out of the five centers (Patriarchates) of the ancient Pentarchy are in Turkey: Constantinople (Istanbul) and Antioch (Antakya). Antioch was also the place where the followers of Jesus were called "Christians" for the first time in history, as well as being the site of one of the earliest and oldest surviving churches, established by Saint Peter himself. For a thousand years, the Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world.

Turkey is also home to the Seven Churches of Asia, where the Revelation to John was sent. Apostle John is reputed to have taken Virgin Mary to Ephesus in western Turkey, where she spent the last days of her life in a small house, known as the House 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 the Seven Sleepers is also located in Ephesus.

All of the first seven Ecumenical Councils which are recognized by both the Western and Eastern churches were held in present-day Turkey. Of these, the Nicene Creed, declared with the First Council of Nicaea (İznik) in 325, is of utmost importance and has provided the essential definitions of present-day Christianity.

Today, however, Turkey has a smaller Christian percentage of its population than any of its neighbours, including Syria, Iraq and even Iran, due to the Assyrian Genocide, Armenian Genocide and Greek Genocide during and after WWI, and the subsequent large scale population transfers of Turkey's Christian population, most notably Greece, and the forced exodus of indigenous Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and Georgians upon the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. This was followed by the continued emigration of most of the remaining indigenous Christians over the next century.

During the tumultuous period of the first world war and founding of the Turkish republic, up to 3 million indigenous Christians are alleged to have been killed. Prior to this time, the Christian population stood at around 20% of the total.

Demographics

In addition, the vast majority of Christians in Turkey have been members of indigenous Pre-Turkish and Pre-Islamic ethnic groups, extant in the region since the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. The Turks have had poor relations with these ancient communities of Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians and Georgians, and the previous killings, deportations and emigrations of these ethnicities, which coupled with the emigration of the country's Jews and its nonrecognition of other religions, means that Turkey is a de facto Islamic state, and ethnic Turks are almost exclusively Muslim.

According to the newspaper, "Milliyet" reports 35,000 Muslim Turks convert into Christianity in 2008.[12] There is small ethnic Turkish Protestant Christian community in Turkey which number about 4,000-5,000[13][14] adherents most of them came from Muslim Turkish background.[15][16][17][18]

Today the Christian population of Turkey is estimated at more than 160,000 Christians, these include; 60,000 Armenian Apostolic,[5][19] 35,000 Roman Catholics of varying ethnicities, 21,000 ethnic Assyrians, (mostly followers of the Assyrian Church of the East, Syriac Orthodox Church and Chaldean Catholic Church),[20] up to 22,000 Greeks (3,000-4,000 Greek Orthodox,[19] 10,000-18,000 Antiochian Greeks[21][21][22]) and smaller numbers of Bulgarians, Georgians, and Protestants of various ethnicities.

According to Bekir Bozdag, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, there were 349 active churches in Turkey (October 2012). 140 Greek, 58 Assyrian and 52 Armenian.[23]

Christian communities

Churches of the Byzantine rite

Istanbul is the seat of the patriarchate, one of the oldest of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Antioch is the official seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. Hatay Province including Antakya is not part of the canonic area of the Church of Constantinople. Most of the local orthodox persons are Arabic-speaking.

Armenian church in Vakifli, Turkey

Churches of the Armenian rite

Main article: Armenians in Turkey

Armenians in Turkey prior to the Armenian Genocide were centered,ironically, in the eastern part of turkey, known as the Armenian Highlands, or Western Armenia. Now, the majority are concentrated in Istanbul. A couple thousand others live scattered throughout Anatolian Turkey.

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.[26] There are other churches in Kayseri, Diyarbakır, Derik, İskenderun, and Vakifli 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.

Churches of the Syriac rite

Saffron Monastery, Patriarchal Vicarate of Mardin near Mardin, Turkey

The Syriac Christian population probably has the most regional influence in Turkey, as its population wasn't confined to or was centered in Istanbul like the rest of the Christian communities of Turkey were. Active churches are located in Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Adiyaman, and Elazig.[28] There are many both active and inactive churches in the traditionally Neo-Aramaic area of Tur Abdin, which is a region centered in the western area of(Mardin province, and has areas that go into Sirnak, and Batman 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 the Turkey-PKK conflict. The Church structure is still organized however, with 12 reverends stationed in churches and monasteries there.[29] Churches were also in several other provinces as well, but in the Assyrian Genocide the churches in those provinces were destroyed or left ruined.

Churches of the Syriac rite include-

Churches of the Assyrian Rite

The Nestorian(Assyrian Church of the East) church in Turkey was completely wiped out in the Assyrian Genocide, although they were originally centered in Hakkari. The Chaldean Branch is based primarily in Istanbul, although its church structure is centered in Diyarbakir.

Churches of the Assyrian rite include-

Churches of the Latin rite

Anglican Church

The Anglicans in Turkey form part of the Eastern Archdeaconry of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. In 2008 the Bishop of Europe, Geoffrey Rowell, caused controversy by ordaining a local man to minister to Turkish-speaking Anglicans in Istanbul.[30]

The main churches are at Ankara (St Nicholas), Istanbul (Christ Church) and Izmir (St John the Evangelist).

Other denominations

The Armenian Protestants own three Istanbul churches from the 19th century.[31] There is an Alliance of Protestant Churches in Turkey.[32]

There are churches for foreigners in compounds and resorts, although they are not counted in lists of churches as they are only used by Tourists and Expats.

Christian houses of worship

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Churches of the Byzantine rite

Church name Picture Status
Saint Andrew in Krisei converted into a mosque
Chora Church converted into a mosque, museum
Church of Christ Pantokrator (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Church of Christ Pantepoptes (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Palace of Antiochos ruins
Church of the Virgin of the Pharos ruins
Monastery of Gastria converted into a mosque
Church of St. George, Istanbul active
Hagia Irene museum
Hagia Sophia converted into a mosque, museum
Church of the Holy Apostles demolished, Fatih Mosque build on top
Church of Saint John the Baptist at Lips (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Monastery of Stoudios ruins
Church of Saint John the Baptist en to Trullo (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Istanbul) active
Church of St. Mary of the Mongols active
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
Bulgarian St. Stephen Church active
St. Demetrius Church in Feriköy, Istanbul active
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 the Theotokos Kyriotissa (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Kuştul Monastery ruins
Sümela Monastery museum
House of the Virgin Mary museum
Meryem Ana Church active
Church of St Nicholas of Myra(Santa Claus) (Demre) ruins,museum

Churches of the Georgian rite

Locations of some of the Georgian churches.
Church name Picture Status
Notre Dame de Lourdes (Turkey) (Bomonti Gürcü Katolik Kilisesi) active
Oshki (Öşki Manastırı/Öşk Vank/Çamlıyamaç) abandoned
Khakhuli Monastery (Haho/Bağbaşı) converted into a mosque
Doliskana (Dolishane/Hamamlıköy) abandoned
Bana cathedral (Penek) ruins
Tbeti Monastery (Cevizli) ruins
old Georgian Church, Ani ruins
Ishkhani (İşhan) protected
Parkhali (Barhal/Altıparmak) converted into a mosque
Khandzta ruins
Ekeki ruins
Otkhta Eklesia (Dörtkilise) abandoned
Parekhi ruins
Makriali St. George church, Kemalpaşa, Artvin ruins
St. Barlaam Monastery of Antioch (Barlaham Manastırı), Yayladağı ruins
Ancha monastery ruins
Okhvame, Ardeşen ruins
Tzkarostavi monastery ruins
Opiza ruins

Churches of the Armenian rite

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 Baptist Armenian Church (Uskudar) unknown
St. John The Evangelist Armenian Church (Gedikpaşa, Istanbul)
Surp Hovhannes Ermeni Kilisesi 		active
St. George (Sourp Kevork) Armenian Church (Samatya, Istanbul) unknown
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 (Kınalıada, Istanbul)Armenial Church
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
St. Giragos Armenian Church (Diyarbakır)
Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi 		active
Cathedral of Ani ruins,protected
Cathedral of Kars converted into a mosque
Cathedral of Mren ruins
Holy Apostles Monastery ruins,destroyed
Horomos ruins
Karmravank (Vaspurakan) ruins
Kaymaklı Monastery ruins
Khtzkonk Monastery ruins
Ktuts monastery abandoned
Varagavank ruins,protected
Narekavank no trace, mosque build on top
Saint Bartholomew Monastery ruins,protected
Saint Karapet Monastery ruins,mostly destroyed
St. Marineh Church, Mush ruins
St. Stepanos Church ruins
Tekor Basilica destroyed
Armenian church in Vakıflı
Vakıflıköy Ermeni Kilisesi 		active

Churches of the Syriac rite

Church name Picture Status
Mor Sharbel Syriac Orthodox church in Midyat active
Mor Gabriel Monastery active
Mor Hananyo Monastery active

Roman Catholic Churches

Church name Picture Status
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul active
St. Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul active
Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun active
Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin active
St. John's Cathedral, Izmir active
Church of St Peter museum
Church of San Domenico (Constantinople) converted into a mosque
Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul active

[33]

Anglican churches

Church name Picture Status
Christ Church, Istanbul active
St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, Izmir active

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christianity in Turkey.
  1. ↑ Içduygu, Ahmet; Toktas, Şule; Ali Soner, B. (1 February 2008). "The politics of population in a nation-building process: emigration of non-Muslims from Turkey". Ethnic and Racial Studies 31 (2): 358–389. doi:10.1080/01419870701491937.
  2. ↑ "Chapter The refugees question in Greece (1821-1930) in "Θέματα Νεοελληνικής Ιστορίας", ΟΕΔΒ ("Topics from Modern Greek History"). 8th edition" (PDF). Nikolaos Andriotis. 2008.
  3. ↑ "'Editors' Introduction: Why a Special Issue?: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East" (PDF). Editors' Introduction. 2001. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Religions". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Foreign Ministry: 89,000 minorities live in Turkey". Today's Zaman. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Statistics by Country". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Christen in der islamischen Welt – Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Turkish Protestants still face "long path" to religious freedom". christiancentury.org. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Life, Culture, Religion". Official Tourism Portal of Turkey. 15 April 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  10. ↑ William G. Rusch (2013). The Witness of Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-8028-6717-9. Constantinople has been the seat of an archiepiscopal see since the fourth century; its ruling hierarch has had the title of"Ecumenical Patriarch" ...
  11. ↑ Erwin Fahlbusch; Geoffrey William Bromiley (2001). The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 978-90-04-11695-5. 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 ...
  12. ↑ 35,000 Turks convert into Christianity each year in Turkey!
  13. ↑ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion 11: 17. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ↑ [http://www.iirf.eu/index.php?id=178&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[backPid]=176&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1295 "International Institute for Religious Freedom: Single Post"]. Iirf.eu. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  15. ↑ Jonathan Luxmoore (2011-03-04). "Turkish Protestants still face "long path" to religious freedom". The Christian Century. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  16. ↑ "TURKEY - Christians in eastern Turkey worried despite church opening". Hurriyetdailynews.com. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  17. ↑ Muslim Nationalism and the New Turks - Jenny White. Books.google.it. 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  18. ↑ "TURKEY: Protestant church closed down | Church In Chains - Ireland :: An Irish voice for suffering, persecuted Christians Worldwide". Churchinchains.ie. 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  19. 1 2
  20. ↑ "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Turkey : Assyrians". Refworld. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  21. 1 2 Archived August 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ "Christen in der islamischen Welt | bpb" (in German). Bpb.de. 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  23. ↑ "CHP Tunceli Milletvekili Hüseyin Aygün’ün soru önergesini Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü ve Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı’nın ayrı bilgi notlarıyla yanıtlayan Başbakan Yardımcısı Bekir Bozdağ, Türkiye’de faaliyette bulunan kilise sayısının 349, sinagog sayısının 38 olduğunu bildirdi...Bozdağ, Türkiye’de Rumlara ait 140 kilise, Süryanilere ait 58 kilise ve Ermenilere ait 52 kilise bulunduğunu bildirdi". Siyaset.milliyet.com.tr.
  24. ↑ "Visit to Antakya shows Turkey embraces religious diversity". Mobile.todayszaman.com. 2010-11-07. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  25. ↑ "Middle Eastern Christians Flee Violence for Ancient Homeland". News.nationalgeographic.com. 2014-12-29. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  26. ↑ "Listing of Armenian Churches in Armeniapedia". Armeniapedia.org. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  27. ↑ "German Site on Christians in Turkey". Kirche-in-not.de.
  28. ↑ http://www.soc-wus.org/Directory.htm
  29. ↑ http://soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Archd%20Turabdin.htm
  30. ↑ "Istanbul ordination may worsen life for Christians". Church Times. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-05-26.
  31. ↑ "German Site on Christians in Turkey". Kirche-in-not.de. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  32. ↑ "World Evangelical Alliance". Worldevangelicalalliance.com. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  33. ↑ "Travel to Tao-Klarjeti - Drawings". Tao-klarjeti.ge. Retrieved 2015-08-11.

External links

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