Churches in Istanbul

Bulgarian St.Stephen Church or Bulgarian Iron Church is an Orthodox Church in Balat belonging to the Bulgarian minority community in the area. This church is one of the hidden gems of Istanbul. It was constructed during the 19th century following a Bulgarian nationalist movement. It was closed in 2011 and reopened to the public in 2018 after a large-scale renovation. Showcasing both neo-Byzantine and neo-Baroque architectural influences, the building is made up of cast iron. It consists of a three-domed cross-shaped basilica with the altar facing Golden Horn and a 40m high belfry. It is easily accessible via a bus or a Golden Horn boat trip.

St.George's Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox church situated in Fener in the Fatih district of Istanbul. Commonly known as Patriarchal Church of the Great Myrrh, it was constructed as a dedication to the Christian martyr, Saint George. It has been the seat of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople since 1600 and though it is a relatively smaller church, it is in no way lacking beauty and grandeur. The interior of the church house a fragment of the Pillar of the Flagellation. The church has been damaged several times while also enduring a terrorist attack in 1997. Hardly any parts of the original structure remain due to the multiple renovations over the years but that has not deterred the exemplary magnificence of the structure which is still a common place of pilgrimage for many.

Sent Antuan Kilisesi or St. Anthony of Padua Church is a basilica and church located in the Beyoğlu district. It is the largest Roman Catholic church in Istanbul and one of the three Levantine parishes in the area. It is famous for its unique architecture, which includes a gilded wooden statue of St. Anthony by Luigi Bresciani and mosaics depicting the Baptism of the Lord.

Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos, is a well-known Byzantine church and museum located in the Carsamba town of Fatih district. It houses the third-largest Byzantine mosaics in Istanbul after Hagia Sophia and Chora Church which visitors can see along with Constantinople's Palaiologan architecture.