Aya Mina Greek Orthodox Church

Aya Mina Greek Orthodox Church

Year Built
1833
Commissioned By
Samatya Greek Congregation
Architect
Konstantis Yolasığmazis
Location
Fatih
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Changes After Construction

  1. The present building was rebuilt in 1833 in place of the earlier structure that had been destroyed in the fire of 1782.

  2. The building was heavily damaged during the events of September 6–7, 1955, and was renewed afterward.

Featured Highlights

  • The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul.

  • The building is also known as the Church of Ayios Minas–Polykarpos.

  • Beneath the structure is a circular-plan Early Byzantine substructure dated to the 4th–5th centuries; in the literature, it has also been evaluated as the substructure of the martyrion of Karpos and Papylos, though this identification remains debated.

  • The building stands on an elevated level and is situated within a courtyard reached by stairs from street level.

  • In the courtyard there is a baldachin-type bell tower made of white marble.

  • There is a holy spring beneath the church.

  • Inside, there is a gilded wooden iconostasis and dated icons (for example, an icon dated 1746).

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