This week in Christian history: Pat Robertson controversy, Turkey allows church

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 31, 2023

Turkey allows new church to be built for first time in nearly a century – Jan. 2, 2015

Tourists visit The Chora (Kariye) Church Museum, the 11th century church of St. Savior on August 21, 2020, in Istanbul, Turkey. The Chora Church Museum dates back to the Byzantine era when it was originally built as a monastery, during the Ottoman era it was converted into a mosque before being changed to a museum in 1948. The interior is decorated with some of the oldest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. | Getty Images/Burak Kara

This week marks the anniversary of when the Muslim-majority nation of Turkey, which was once a powerful Christian empire, allowed the building of a church for the first time in over 90 years.

From 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was founded, until 2015, the Islamic country had only allowed its small Christian minority to renovate preexisting church buildings.

Then, at a meeting held between Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and religious officials, it was announced that a new church could be constructed for the Syriac community.

Known as Mor Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Church and located on state-owned property in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy, construction officially began in 2019 and was completed in October of that year.

“The church complex comprises five floors, with one floor designated as a cultural hall. This space will serve as a hub for various community events, including baptisms, condolences, weddings, as well as meetings and conferences,” reported Hurriyet Daily News.

“The ground floor of the church houses the area for religious services, along with the living quarters for the metropolitan, guest rooms and parking facilities.”