St. George’s Cathedral

It was renovated in 1614 during the patriarchate of Timotheos I.
After the fire of 1720, it was rebuilt by Patriarch Jeremias III.
It was repaired in 1836 during the patriarchate of Gregory VI, and it largely acquired its present appearance in this phase.
It was damaged in the 1941 fire; following works that began in 1989, it was reopened for worship in 1991.

The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul.
It is located within the Patriarchate complex and has served as the patriarchal church since 1601.
It is recorded that a workshop for the preparation of the “holy chrism,” made at certain intervals, was located in the Patriarchate courtyard.
The inscription above the patriarchal throne bears the date 1577; the throne’s mother-of-pearl/ivory inlay workmanship and vine trellis composition are especially emphasized.
It is stated that the synthronon behind the altar dates to the early 5th century; it includes a marble seat for the patriarch and a surrounding seating arrangement for the members of the Synod.
It is recorded that there is an inscription dated 1703 on the ambo (the place for reading the Gospel).
It has been stated that the iconostasis bears an 18th-century character and is described as a layered composition bringing together Byzantine, Renaissance, Baroque, and Ottoman styles.
It is stated that the mosaic icons dated to the 11th century (Panaghia Pammakaristos and John the Baptist) and the icon of Panaghia Faneromeni are counted among the most valuable icons in the church.
It is recorded that sacred relics such as the column, saints’ reliquary chests, and sarcophagi are located inside the church; among them are the reliquary chest attributed to the Apostle Andrew and the sarcophagi of certain saints.
It is stated that some relics of major saints returned from Rome in 2004 are preserved in the church.