Aziz Yahya Turkish Orthodox Church
Changes After Construction:
- The church was damaged in the fire of 1696 and was rebuilt in 1699.
- It was damaged again in 1731 and was rebuilt in 1734.
- After the fire of 1771, it was rebuilt in 1773/1774; the present building took shape as a result of this phase.
Prominent Features:
- The church belongs to the Independent Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate.
- The building has also been known by the names “Aya Yani Prodromos” and “Ioannes Prodromos.”
- The earliest known record concerning the church dates back to 1583.
- The holy spring in the narthex is dated 1867 and is dedicated to Saint Anton.
- It has been stated that the ornate iconostasis belongs to the same period as the reconstruction of 1773/1774.
- It has been stated that the silver-covered icon of John the Baptist, dated to the late 17th century, was brought from a church on Burgazada.
- It has been stated that there are graves in the courtyard belonging to people from Chios who settled here, and that the graves of Konstantinos Argenti (1822–1862) and members of the Mavrokordatos family stand out.
- The Hagios Nikolaos icon donated to the church in 1722 is located in the south corner space of the church.
- It is stated that the “Zodokhos Pege” and “Ioannes Prodromos” icons presently in the church were brought from Russia in 1796.
