Surp Levon Church, Armenian Catholic church in Kadıköy, Turkey.
Surp Levon Church is an Armenian Catholic church building in Kadıköy featuring a bell tower that holds four bells, three imported from Venice and one preserved from the earlier structure. The interior displays carefully arranged religious spaces with characteristic architectural details of Armenian Catholic tradition.
The building was completed in 1911 under Archpriest Andon Iskenderyan and represents the last church constructed under an Ottoman imperial decree in Turkey. This permission marked the end of an era for religious construction under the old ruling system.
The main altar displays an 1890 painting of Saint Leo by Italian artist Giovanni Cingolani, reflecting the Armenian Catholic heritage of the place. The artworks and religious objects inside tell of the long connection between the Armenian community and this neighborhood.
The place offers the opportunity to attend regular services and spend time in a space with remarkable acoustics throughout the year. Visitors should respect local customs and prepare with appropriate dress if they wish to attend services or explore the interior.
A rooster figure symbolizing divine wisdom stands at the top of the bell tower and overlooks the Altiyol Square area. This distinctive decoration is visible from many points around the neighborhood and serves as a recurring symbol of the place.
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