Changes After Construction
In the fire of 1782, the church and the large cypress tree in its courtyard were burned.
During the patriarchate of Constantios (1830–1834), the church was rebuilt and a new cypress tree was planted in the courtyard.
The present building has changed to such an extent after fires and extensive renewals that it no longer closely resembles its early church layout.
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The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul.
The building is also known as “Aya Yorgi Kiparisa”; the name “Kiparisa/Kyparission” is associated with the cypress tradition in the courtyard.
The building is evaluated within a historical church area associated with the Byzantine-period settlement of Psamatheia (present-day Samatya).
The church is mentioned as a place where the family tomb associated with the Byzantine historian Michael Attaleiates is located.
It is stated that a service is held in the church once a year by the Patriarch.
