While walking around Istanbul, you can find a huge number of interesting non-touristic places. For example, I have already written about the mosque with a coffin on the roof and the bright Sultan's Pavilion. This time, quite by chance, I found myself in the Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, which is located in a busy tourist area.
History of the Place
The Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is one of the four Orthodox churches in this area, which were built for Russian pilgrims heading to Jerusalem or Mount Athos. Religious structures for believers were located on the upper floors of the buildings, while the lower floors were occupied by hotel rooms.
The St. Andrew's Podvorye appeared in Istanbul (at that time, Constantinople) in 1870. A couple of decades later, it burned down, and a new structure was built in its place with a church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God on the top floor. The podvorye was operational a year before the construction work was completed; this is evidenced by a receipt from a Russian store located in the same area — it was issued to the steward, Father Prokopiy.
The largest influx of parishioners in the Orthodox chapels of Constantinople occurred between 1920 and 1924, when a wave of White emigrants poured into the city. At that time, the podvorye building housed a pharmacy and a clinic with 18 doctors.
The church was painted in 1928; the artist was Nikolai Konstantinovich Perov. Today, the church preserves a collection of church hymns transcribed by Perov's own hand.
How to Get There
The church can be quickly reached on foot from the Karaköy or Tophane tram stops; this is the T1 line. The tram route passes through the city's main attractions — Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. If you are staying in the Fatih district, getting to the church will be quite easy.
The church is located on the fifth floor behind the door of what looks like an ordinary residential building. You can recognize the entrance by the blue door with a plaque. The church is active, and entry is free.
If you are interested in stories about the religious buildings of Istanbul, I suggest reading about the unusual Church of St. Anthony of Padua or the Bulgarian St. Stephen's Church.
Enjoy your walks!
