SYNAGOGUES AND CHURCHES IN ISTANBUL

NEVE SALOM SYNAGOGUE
Name of the synagogue, which is at Galata, on Buyuk Hendek Street, means "Peace Oasis". 25th March, 1951 opened this synagogue is still the most modern and magnificent synagogue of Istanbul, and witnessed a lot of religious ceremony, such as wedding, bar, mitzva (maturity ceremony) and funeral, or Head Rabbinate Appointment (Hahambasilik Is'ad) ceremonies.

ITALIAN SYNAGOGUE
It is at Galata, on Poet Ziya Pasa Slope. This synagogue, which is especially Italian and Austrian nationality holding Hebrews, who live in Ottoman Empire, begin to serve on 1886.

ASKENAZI SYNAGOGUE
This synagogue is among the other synagogues of Jewish people belonging to Askenaz community living in Istanbul and the only one that has still been in service.
Loacted at Yuksek Kaldirim Street at Galata, the synagogue was constructed by Askenaz people of Austrian origin. With its facade in European style and the decoration of its Ehal and Teva( prayer desk) in wooden pagoda style with Polish influence,the synagogue displays a different view when compared to traditional Sefarad and Romaniot synagogues.

AHRIDA SYNAGOGUE
Located at Balat, the synagogue was built by those who had migrated to Macedonia from Ahri borough in 15thg century. Having a similar shape to a ship's bow, Teva( prayer desk) of the synagogue to some resembles to Noah's Ship while others compare it to Ottoman galleys that carried Sefarad immigrants to the Ottoman piers from Spain. Being in service over 500 years, the synagogue has been exposed to some fires and repaired . Moreover, embracing the most ancient appearance among the others included within frame of 500th annual celebratons programme, it was restored in Lale(Tulip) Period baroque style.

ETZ AHAYIM SYNAGOGUE (Ortakoy)
Becoming an appropriate residential for the Jewsih people who settled there after the great bedesten( bazaar) fire in 1618, Ortakoy where Jewish people already had lived from the ancient times, formed a model of harmony with three celestial religion performed in the mosque, synagogue and church located at a triangular area. Signifying the meaning of "Life Tree", Ortakoy Etz Ahayim Synagogue dated back to 17th century,which is derived from the documents of maintanance. The building was totally destructed in the fire of 1941 and today only the Ehal (case in which the manuscript parchments of the copy of the Pentateuch were kept) at the side of the garden of the building facing the sea have remained.

St. Anthony of Padua (Catholic)
Info: One of the city's best known functioning Roman Catholic churches.
Address: Istiklal Cad. Galatasaray-Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 244 09 35

Armenian Patriarchate (Armenian)
Address: Sarapnel Sok. 20 Kumkapi Tel: (0212) 517 09 70

Church of St. George (Catholic)
Address: Sadrazam Ali Pasa Cad. Fener

St. Stephen of the Bulgars (Orthodox)
Address: Fener Info: Directly in the middle of the Golden Horn road, this 19th century structure is built entirely of iron. It was prefabricated in Vienna and sent via the Danube to be erected here to celebrate the independence of the Bulgarian Church. It has recently been restored.