CHURCH
CHURCH PF SAINT POLYCARP 0IZMIR OF CHURCH)
OLDEST CHURCH IN IZMIR
Built with the permission of Suleyman the Magnificent in
1625 , this church is the oldest church in Izmir, which is still in service.
The interior, famous for its glamorous frescoes and wall decorations, depicts
the killing of Saint Polycarp, the protective saint of Izmir, by the Romans in
the ancient stadium at Kadifekale.
Architect Raymond Charles Pere, a native of
Izmir, who restored the frescoes in the 19th century, depicted
himself as someone watching the event helplessly with his hands tied. Mary
Piere , the daughter of Charles Pere, is depicted as the child Mary in the
scene “The Saint Mother and Child Mary” on the sidewall of the northern nave.
CHURCH OF ST JOHN
Construction began in 1862 and services started in 1874 .The
main altar was a gift from Pope Pius IX.It is known that in 1863, Sultan
Abdulaziz ,then Ottoman Ruler donated a large sum of gold for financing the
construction of this church.Both protestant and Catholic American communities
presently use the church.
CHURCH OF SAINT HELEN
Located in the district of Karsiyaka bearing the signature
of Raymond Charles Pere, the Church of Saint Helen is the most monumental
examples of recreating the Gothic style.The church was built on a plot of land
donated by the Levantine Aliotti family following permission by Abdulhamit, the
Ottoman emperor of the time.
