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Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Armenian Catholic Church (Vosgeperan Ermeni Katolik Kilisesi) is the largest Armenian Catholic church in Turkey. It’s located a block from Istiklal Street in Istanbul, behind the French Consulate, and is well worth a visit if it’s open.
History
Vosgeperan Church was originally built in 1837, but it was later destroyed and burned. The current church was built between 1860 and 1863 by architect Garabet Tülbentçiyan. It was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1979.
Features
The church has a capacity of 600 worshippers. It’s topped by an octagonal dome and has chapels on the sides. To the right of the entrance are a few plaques with Armenian inscriptions.
The main altar sits on the east end of the church under a vaulted apse. The pulpit sits between two side chapels to the right of the altar.
My Experience
Visiting Vosgeperan Church was a nice experience for me. One of the parishioners was standing outside and invited me in to look around. We had a nice chat mixed with English, Turkish, and Greek.
Having a chance to visit Armenian churches or cemeteries in Istanbul has been a rare occurrence for me. Usually, caretakers are reluctant to let me in, which is understandable given the history of Armenians in Turkey, but some have been downright rude. Luckily for me, after seeing Vosgeperan Church was open and receiving a nice welcome, I was able to enjoy the beauty of the building.
