Church of St. George, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Fatih, Turkey
The building presents itself as a neoclassical brick structure with a three-aisled basilica arrangement and ebony wood pews in the interior. The architecture shows Byzantine influences in the spatial design with columns separating the side aisles from the main nave, while iconostasis and liturgical elements emphasize the sacred character.
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Ecumenical Patriarchate lost its original residence and established itself in this building around 1600. The complex has served as the administrative and religious headquarters since then despite changing political circumstances during the Ottoman and Republican periods.
The cathedral houses religious artifacts including the relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory the Theologian within its walls and serves as a spiritual center for the Orthodox community in the city. As the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the building functions as an administrative and liturgical base for Orthodox Christians worldwide.
The building is located at 79 İncebel Sokak and is accessible on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Visitors must pass security checks and should wear appropriate clothing for a religious site. The nearest public transportation options are in the surrounding Fener area.
Ottoman construction regulations required that this religious building be built lower than neighboring mosques, resulting in its modest dimensions. The bells were not permitted to ring publicly, so a traditional wooden sounding board called a simandron was used to call the faithful to services.
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