Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul, Greek Catholic jurisdiction in Beyoglu, Turkey.
The Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul is a Greek Catholic jurisdiction based in Beyoglu that operates from two locations throughout the city. The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity serves as its main church and provides religious services to the Greek Catholic community in Turkey.
The exarchate was founded in 1911 to serve Greek Catholics in the Ottoman Empire, and George Calavassy was appointed as its first exarch in 1920. This appointment established organized church leadership for the Greek Catholic faithful in the region.
The exarchate follows Byzantine liturgical traditions in Greek, preserving an Eastern Christian faith practice within Turkey. This approach connects its congregation daily to the roots of early Christian churches.
The main location is on Hamalbasi Street in the Beyoglu district, offering good access from Istanbul's European side. Visitors should note that the congregation is small and services take place at specific times, so checking ahead is advisable.
The congregation numbered around 16 members in 2017, making it one of the smallest Catholic jurisdictions in the entire Mediterranean region. This small size preserves a rare Eastern Catholic presence in a predominantly Muslim city.
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