Balıklı Armenian Cemetery, Armenian cemetery in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
Balıklı Armenian Cemetery is a historic Armenian cemetery in the Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is divided into two sections, Büyük Balıklı and Küçük Balıklı, and contains a chapel, a khachkar, and many old gravestones with inscriptions in Armenian and Turkish written in Armenian script.
The cemetery was transferred to the Armenian community in 1554 during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Over time, it was divided by a road, and a wall was built around it in the early 20th century, with some gravestones used in its construction.
The cemetery is maintained by the Armenian Patriarchate and serves as a burial ground for Istanbul's Armenian community. Visitors can see the Surp Sarkis Chapel near the entrance, where small memorial services are sometimes held.
The cemetery is open to visitors during daylight hours, and the main entrance leads to a path that divides the two sections. Comfortable shoes are recommended as some areas have uneven ground and gravel paths.
Among the graves are those of notable figures such as journalist Hrant Dink and poet Misak Metsarents. The cemetery also has a khachkar brought from Armenia in 2016 and about 500 historic gravestones.
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