Church of St. George, Istanbul

The George's Cathedral (Greek Καθεδρικός ναός του Αγίου Γεωργίου Kathedrikós Naos tou Georgiou Agíou; Turkish Aya Yorgi ) is the Orthodox Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople Opel in the Fener district of Istanbul.

The George's Cathedral is since about 1600 the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople Opel. The cathedral is dedicated to the Christian martyr George. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. Opel presents here the anointing oil Myron ago on Maundy Thursday. The Cathedral is open from morning 8.30 clock to 16 clock open to the public. Behind the church building houses the administrative building and the library of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

History

Before the church building was raised in 1600 to the cathedral, it was an orthodox monastery. The Patriarch Matthew II of Constantinople Opel (1596-1603) ordered the transfer of the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in St. George's Church. Konstantin Opel since 1453 been under Ottoman rule. The Fener was at that time the center of the Greek Orthodox life in Istanbul. The church building has been modified several times over the years and few ingredients are still of original structure. Patriarch Timothy II (1612-1620) renewed the building and enlarged the cathedral in 1614. During the early 18th century ( the Sources vary on the exact year ), the cathedral was damaged by a fire. In 1720 the Patriarch Jeremias III began. (1716-1726, 1732-1733) to build the cathedral again. The restoration was continued by Patriarch Paisius II. 1738 added another larger fire to the church building to damage.

Pictures

Fragments of suffering tools, south side of the iconostasis

Kliros with iconostasis left

Coat of arms over the portal

Reliquaries of St. John Chrysostom and Gregory of Nazianzen