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Surp Hreshdagabed Balat Armenian Church

In compensation for the conversion into a mosque in 1627 of the Armenian church Surp Nigogayos (Saint Nicolas) located in Edirnekapı, this Greek Orthodox church of the 9th century (Ayia Strati) was offered to the Armenian community by the decree of Sultan Murat IV.

After the renovations were completed in 1628, it was consecrated and opened for worship. Shortly after, following a fire in the neighborhood, the church also burned down. It was rebuilt in wood and consecrated in 1730 and reopened for worship. However, the church burned several times on different dates, after the fifth fire in 1831. It was rebuilt in masonry by order of Sultan Mahmut II and opened for worship in 1835. The church was dedicated to the 'Archangel Michael, one of the Archangels, and was called Surp Hreşdagabed (Patron Saint of Angels). It was restored in 2005 and 2012.

Archbishop Tateos Trakyalı (1810-1875) and Mahdesi Mıgırdiç Efendi Antreasyan (died 1885) are buried in this churchyard.

Altars

There are six separate altars in the church. At the entrance to the church, to the left and right of the area of the candlesticks, are the paintings representing the Archangel Michael, in battle with the devil and the evil angels. The main altar with the painting of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, the altar of St. Minas, to the right of the main altar, to the left, the altar with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ the exorcist ( Tcharkhapan) outside. On the right, the altar of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. On the left of the baptistery, the painted altar represents Saint Boghos (Paul) and Saint Bedros (Peter).

Tcharkhapan

On this altar is a sacred painting (Çarkhapan Surp Asdvadzamayr), which dates back to the 1500s. The name of the altar comes from this painting.

During the fire that broke out in the neighborhood in 1900, the Karagumruk Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church was burned to ashes and this painting was saved from the fire and donated to the Surp Hreşdagabed Church by decree of the Patriarch Magakya Ormanyan.

Every year in September, during the feast of the "Recovery of the Holy Cross", visitations of faith are made and believers pray in front of this altar. Before Easter, during Great Lent, all the curtains in the church are closed, while the Charkhapan altar curtain is not covered, and believers and pious lovers continue to pray here. At this altar and even in the church, as a result of healing prayers, miracles took place and people regained their health.

Two-Wing Door

Two-Wing Door From Casting Iron...

To the left of the main church building is a two-wing door opening to the corridor leading to the holy spring.

The four plates made of iron inlaid on the door belong to a German church in Istanbul in 727 and in 1742 Sultan II. It was found under the ground during the renovation of Topkapi Palace during the reign of Mahmut II. The Armenian architect, who found these plates, bought them from the palace with the permission of the sultan, turned them into a double door with an iron frame, and presented them to the church.

Three of the four plates depict Jesus Christ driving out the vendors inside the temple at the entrance to the market in Jerusalem. On the fourth plate, Surp Kevork (Saint George- 275 AD) is depicted killing the dragon with his spear.

Lusaghpur Madur

Opposite the stairs leading down to the holy spring, under the church, is the altar and painting of the Virgin Mary (Khintragadar Surp Asdvadzadzin), who accepts wishes. Since our church is an old Greek Orthodox Church, it has a holy spring. While a major renovation was carried out in the Holy Spring section in 2006, the saints' bones of St. Ardemios (363) and St. Peprone (305), who were buried in this section, was found and displayed in a glass lantern. Both of them were beheaded and killed because they did not abandon their Christian beliefs and faith during the years of paganism. For this reason, they were deemed worthy of martyrdom and sainthood.

Contact

You may contact us to be informed about the Holy Sacrifice, rituals and other activities...

Kamış Sok. No: 2 Balat Fatih İstanbul 34087

+90 212 521 69 60

balatsurph@gmail.com