Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church

The largest and most magnificent church of the Catholic Armenians in Turkey, the Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Armenian Catholic Church was built in 1837 behind the French Consulate in Taksim Square, Istanbul. The church, which means "Saint John with the Golden Mouth" in Armenian, was damaged and burned over time. The church, which was in ruins, was repaired by architect brothers Andon and Garabet Tülbentçiyan and they also built a school next to it. In 1838, the adjacent lands were purchased and expanded to build a large church and in 1863, the current structure was built by architects Andon and Garabet Tülbentçiyan. With a capacity of 600 people, the Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church is the largest and most magnificent church of the Armenian Catholics in Turkey and was visited by Pope Jean Paul II in 1979.

There is a small courtyard to the west of the structure, which has a basilica plan from the outside and a rotunda plan from the inside. The structure was built with regular cut stone material. There is a three-part narthex to the west of the church, and an apse and choir sections to the east. The building, which has a central domed plan, is supported by four piers. The interior details of the octagonal dome include ceiling cassettes. The interior, where the neoclassical style is dominant, is enlivened with semicircular arch openings, recessed piers, columns and composite capitals. The bell tower is located in the southeast of the building.

Photo Source: http://www.vosgeperan.org/