Church of St. Demetrius

Although it is not known exactly when the Aya Dimitri Church, located in the Kurtuluş district of Istanbul's Şişli district, was built, it is estimated that its foundations date back to the Byzantine Empire.

A marble inscription on the church's outer wall states that the church underwent significant repairs in 1726, that the garden walls were built in 1720, and that important additions were made to the church between 1751-1754 and 1798. The bell tower that has survived to the present day was first built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1955.

The church has a rectangular plan and 5 naves. The upper cover over the central nave is a vault and is heavily decorated. Among the architectural features that make the church important both historically and artistically, the wooden carved and gold-plated icon that separates the naos section reserved for the congregation from the Ieron Vima (Bema) section where religious rituals are performed is at the top of the list. In addition to the icon made in the 18th century, the wooden carved and gold-plated tronos (bishop's chair) and the ambon (sermon platform) are among the other remarkable works. There is a fresco inside the round arch at the entrance to the narthex on the south side of the building. The women's gallery of the church is located above the church entrance hall called the 'narthex' and the entrance is provided by a staircase in the same space.

It is stated that after the Aya Dimitri Church near Kasımpaşa, where minorities live, was converted into a mosque - according to some written sources - they moved the icon of St. Dimitrios to the Aya Tanaş Church in the Tatavla (today's Kurtuluş) district and named the church there Aya Dimitri. The Aya Tanaş Church is the church in the garden of Aya Dimitri and is known today as the Aya Haralambos Church, and it is estimated to be older than Aya Dimitri.

The church garden was used as a cemetery until the ban on burials in church yards was passed in 1865. The Ayios Haralambos Holy Spring is located in the church garden. The Aya Dimitri Church continues to be the central church of the Kurtuluş Greek Community Foundation and is open for worship every day of the week.

Photo Source: https://www.sisligezirehberi.com/rehber/aya-dimitri-kilisesi/