Aya Dimitri Greek Orthodox Church
Changes After Construction:
- Since 1924, the church has been used as the Princes’ Islands Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
- The building suffered major damage in the 1999 Gölcük earthquake.
- The building was restored in 2010.
Prominent Features:
- The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul.
- The building has been identified as the metropolitan cathedral of the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul.
- The church is dedicated to Ayios Dimitrios, who is regarded as the “protecting saint” of Büyükada.
- The building is also known as the “Ayios Demetrios Church.”
- The church was built in the basilical style (with a roof and without a dome).
- There is a wooden bell tower with an onion dome in the courtyard.
- Above the portico in front of the central entrance, there is a marble relief depiction of Ayios Dimitrios.
- In the interior, the central aisle is dedicated to Ayios Dimitrios, and the side aisles are dedicated to Ayios Pandeleimon and Profiti Ilias.
- The side aisles are separated by six columns each, connected to one another by arches within the main space.
