IMPORTANT BELIEF CENTERS IN ANATOLIA:
1 – Selimiye Mosque: It was built by Sultan II in the 16th century. Selimiye Mosque, built by Mimar Sinan in Edirne in the name of Selim, is considered the most magnificent work of its period and subsequent times with its technical excellence, dimensions and aesthetic values. The mosque is valuable for the stone, marble, wood, mother-of-pearl and tile workmanship used in its interior design, which are considered the best examples of the period. The mosque, which Mimar Sinan referred to as “my masterwork”, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2 – Edirne Grand Synagogue:
The Edirne Grand Synagogue, built by the French architect France Depre in 1906 to replace the 14 synagogues that were destroyed in the great fire of 1905, was opened for worship in 1907 under the name “Kal Kados ha Godal”. Edirne Grand Synagogue is used for worship on special occasions by those coming from big cities such as Istanbul, as there is not enough congregation in the city. The synagogue, which is open to public visits, hosts cultural and artistic activities from time to time.
3 – Ahrida Synagogue:
Ahrida Synagogue, located in Balat, Istanbul and whose construction started in the 15th century, is the oldest synagogue in Istanbul. Ahrida Synagogue took its name from the city of “Ohrid” in present-day North Macedonia, where its founders migrated to Istanbul. The synagogue’s teva (Torah reading platform) resembles the prow of a ship. According to one belief, this form is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark, while according to another belief, it symbolizes the Ottoman galleys that brought the Sephardim from Spain to the Ottoman Empire.
4 – Sveti Stefan Church:
Sveti Stefan Church, affiliated with the Bulgarian Exarchate, stands out in history as the only preserved iron church in the world. The cast iron skeleton of the church in Balat, Istanbul, was prepared in Vienna in 1892 and brought to Istanbul via the Danube River and the Black Sea, and was built by the Armenian architect Hovsep Aznavour.
5 – Prince Island (Buyukada) St.George Church:
Aya Yorgi Church (Agios Georgios Greek Orthodox Monastery) on Yüce Tepe, located at the high points of Büyükada, was built in 1751. Hagia Yorgi Church, to which people from different faiths flocked on April 23 and September 24, is also known as ‘the church where wishes come true’. Especially on April 23 and September 24, those who go to church make their wishes and pray with the hope of healing.
6 – Neve Shalom Synagogue:
Istanbul’s largest Sephardic Jewish Synagogue; Neve Shalom Synagogue was opened for worship in 1951. Neve Şalom has a dome that can support a very heavy chandelier and glass imported from England. The synagogue also attracts attention with its special stained glass decorations and marble.
7 – Sultan Ahmet Mosque: Called the Blue Mosque by Europeans because it is decorated with blue, green and white Iznik tiles, the Sultanahmet Mosque is located in Sultanahmet Square, the place where many civilizations sprouted. The mosque, built by the architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa for Sultan Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616, is the first mosque of the period with 6 minarets. The mosque, which was built approximately 1000 years after Hagia Sophia and draws attention with its similarity, successfully synthesizes the Byzantine influences taken from Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture.
8 – Hagia Sophia: Hagia Sophia, which is among the most important works of world architectural history that has survived until today; It has an important place in the art world in terms of its architecture, magnificence, size and functionality. Hagia Sophia, the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul, was converted into a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453. Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935 by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Hagia Sophia, whose status was changed to a mosque as of 2020, continues to accept visitors today and bring together its hundreds of years of history with young people.
9 – Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarchate: Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was founded in the 4th century by Hz. It was founded by St. Andrea, one of the apostles of Jesus. The Patriarchate has a special place in the Orthodox world because it is located in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and is the mother church of today’s Orthodox churches. Located in the Fener district of Istanbul, the patriarchate is the spiritual leadership for millions of Orthodox Christians.
The institution, which includes St. George Church, is one of the 14 autocephalous churches that make up the Eastern Orthodox Church, which represents Orthodox Christianity.
10 – Süleymaniye Mosque: Built by Mimar Sinan between 1551-1557, Süleymaniye Mosque has survived until today without any damage despite all the earthquakes that have occurred for more than 500 years. Located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, the mosque is considered one of the most magnificent examples of classical Ottoman architecture. The 4 minarets in the mosque symbolize that Suleiman the Magnificent was the 4th sultan after the conquest of Istanbul, and the 10 balconies symbolize that he was the 10th sultan in Ottoman history. There is the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent in front of the mihrab of the mosque. To the left of this tomb is the tomb of Hürrem Sultan, decorated with tiles with rare colors and lines. You will be very impressed by the fine details you encounter in the Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Mimar Sinan using his magnificent intelligence.
11 – Iznik Hagia Sophia: Hagia Sophia temple; first MS. It was built as a basilica during the Byzantine period on the Gymnasium built by the Romans in the 7th century. This structure, which is very important in terms of world history, was renewed after the earthquakes. Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque after Iznik was captured by Orhan Gazi in 1331, was repaired by Mimar Sinan during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.
12 – Bursa Grand Mosque:
The Ulu Mosque, built in Bursa between 1396 and 1400 during the reign of Yıldırım Beyazıt, is the first multi-domed monumental structure among the Ottoman mosques with its 20 domes. Only the mosque, bedesten, madrasah and shops remain from the building, which was designed as a social complex. The Grand Mosque is considered the 5th highest place of worship in Islam.
13 – Thyateira Church: Thyateira Church, one of the first 7 churches of Christianity, was founded in the 3rd century AD in the city of Thyateira, also known as the Hill Cemetery in Manisa. The church became the center of attention of Christians from all over the world with its location connecting Pergamon and Sardis, two important centers of ancient times.
14 – St. Jean Church: M.S. Located in Manisa, dating back to 600, St. John Church; It is one of the most important works of the Byzantine Period, with the height and thickness of its columns and the way they are connected to the arches. St. Paul, one of the Seven Churches mentioned in the Revelation section of the Bible. St. John’s Church is also known as Philadelphia Church.
15 – Sardes Ancient City: Sardes Ancient City, founded in 1300 BC and the capital of the Iron Age Lydian Kingdom, is the birthplace of money. Sardes, one of the 7 churches in Western Anatolia that played an important role in the spread of Christianity to the west, is located within the borders of Manisa’s Salihli district. The Ancient City of Sardes has been on the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage temporary list since 2013.
16 – House of Virgin Mary: The Catholic and Muslim sanctuary located on Bülbül Mountain in Ephesus, Izmir, was reportedly discovered following the dreams of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a Catholic nun in the 19th century. According to Christian belief, Hz. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Hz. Meryem came here and spent the last years of her life here. That’s why the house is considered one of the sacred pilgrimage places.
17 – Laodicea Ancient City:
The Hellenistic city of Laodicea, located 6 km north of Denizli, dates back to B.C. It was built by the Seleucid King Antiochus II in the middle of the 3rd century in the name of his wife Laodike. Since the city has been considered a Holy Pilgrimage Center since the 4th century AD, it is of great importance for the Christian world.
18-St. Nicholas Church: St. Nicholas Church, better known as Santa Claus Church, which took until the 11th century to be completed. Nicholas Church is located in Antalya. With its architectural style and decorations, St. Nicholas Church is one of the most outstanding examples of the Middle Byzantine Period that has survived to the present day. Many church historians believe that St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, lived here 1700 years ago.
19 – Pisidia Ancient City: Located on a 1236 m high hill in Isparta, in the Lakes Region, where the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolia intersect, the Pisidia Ancient City was built by the Seleucid dynasty in the 3rd century BC. Since it is considered a Holy Pilgrimage Center because it is one of the places where St. Paul visited and spread Christianity, it is visited by Christians of the Orthodox sect every year. You can explore other holy places along the St. Paulus walking path, which includes this ancient city. The first stage of the road starts from Perge, passes through Kurşunlu Waterfall and ends at Adada Ancient City in Sütçüler. The second stage passes through Aspendos, Köprülü Canyon, Selge, Kerime, Kasımlar, joins the first stage in Adada, and extends from Davras and Eğirdir Barla Mountain to Yalvaç. Remember that you will be using ancient roads throughout the walk.
20 – Konya Mevlana Tomb:
Mevlana Tomb in Konya contains the tomb of Mevlana, who has a worldwide reputation for his Sufi poems and the Mevlevi order of which he was the founder. You can visit the Recitation Room, Dervish Tombs, Semahane and Matbah sections in the museum, where there is a tomb built on four elephant legs.
21 – St. Paul Memorial Museum:
Built in 1850, the church is St. It is the oldest of the churches built in the name of Paul. Prophet Muhammad on the ceiling of the church located in Tarsus district of Mersin. There are frescoes of Jesus, Gospel writers Yohannes, Mattios, Marcos and Lucas. An important church in the Christian world and St. The water well in the courtyard, which is rumored to be the location of the house where Paul lived, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The church was opened to visitors as a Memorial Museum after the restoration work was completed in 2001.
22 – Hatay St. Pierre Memorial Museum: Saint Pierre Church in Hatay consists of a 13 m deep, 9.5 m wide and 7 m high cave carved into the rocks to the west of Cross (Stauris) Mountain. This cave, which was used by the first Christians in Hatay for their secret meetings, is considered one of the oldest churches in Christian history. It is believed that it is the place where St. Peter, one of the 12 apostles, gave his first sermon and that the community received its Christian name in this church. The church, whose exact construction date is unknown, was declared a Holy Pilgrimage Center for Christians by Pope Paul IV in 1983.
23 – St. Theodoros Trion Church: St. Theodoros Trion Church was built by the Ottoman sultan Abdülmecid as war compensation. The church is also known as Üzümlü Church due to the grape processing in Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir. The church, made by combining camel eggs and soil, attracts attention with its rare balance columns. The church, which you can also explore during your visit to Cappadocia, hosts the spring ritual held every year in May.
24 – Hacı Bektaş Veli Tomb:
Tomb of Hacı Bektaş Veli, one of the greatest thinkers of Islamic history, built in Cappadocia in the 13th century; It is located in Nevşehir. Hacı Bektaş Veli’s Tomb is seen as the center where Bektashism, which continues its influence even today and sees and accepts every person as equal, began to spread to the world.
25 – Ankara Hacı Bayram Camii : 1427 yılında inşasına başlanan Hacı Bayram Camii ismini bahçesinde bulunan, Bayrami tarikatının kurucusu, şair Hacı Bayram Veli’nin türbesinden alıyor. Bayramiliğin tarihteki ilk Türk tarikatı olduğu ve Anadolu’da halk arasında birliğin sağlanmasında önemli etkileri olduğu biliniyor. Ankara’nın Ulus semtinde Augustus Tapınağı’nın bitişiğinde yer alan cami 1714 yılında yenilendi ve 18. yüzyıl mimari özelliklerini kazandı.
26 – Yılanlı Church: The church, located in Nevşehir Ihlara Valley and whose frescoes date back to the 9th and 12th centuries, took its name from the golden snake figure that emerged from the priest’s grave inside, according to rumors. The church is one of the most interesting buildings in the region, with its inscriptions describing the attack of four sinful women by eight snakes, and its frescoes depicting Helena holding the True Cross, St. Onuphrius, St. Theodore and St. George.
27 – Nevşehir El Nazar Church: The frescoes found in the El Nazar Church, carved into the fairy chimney in the Nevşehir El Nazar valley in the 10th century, depict Hz. It covers the time from Jesus’ childhood until his ascension into heaven chronologically. Painted in an archaic style by two artists, the church depicts Jesus’ childhood, youth and miracles. Apart from the scenes mentioned in the Bible, the figures of Emperor Constantine and his mother Helen are worth seeing.
28 – Divriği Ulu Mosque and Hospital: The building in Sivas consists of a two-domed mosque and a hospital adjacent to it. Divriği Grand Mosque and Hospital is on the UNESCO World Heritage List with its examples of traditional Anatolian stonemasonry. Ahlatli Hürrem Shah built the mosque in such a way that when viewed from the front, the dozens of motifs in the asymmetrical decorations do not repeat each other. The baroque architectural style in Divriği Ulu Mosque and Hospital has no parallel in Turkish and Islamic Art.
29 – Cennetağzı Caves:
The cave located in the center of Ereğli district of Zonguldak province. It is in the area called Achelon Valley, Ayazma (sacred water) in ancient times. It consists of three caves side by side.
The floor of the entrance section of the first cave is covered with plants and geometrically shaped mosaics. There are ruins of the apse in the eastern part of the second section. The cave building, which is an old church, was used as a place of worship in the early periods of Christianity [1]. This cave is also called Church Cave or Hercules Cave.
The second cave is called Koca Yusuf among the people. The cave, which was previously 1500 m long, decreased to 350 m as a result of a rockfall in 1960. Expansions were made on the walls by human hands, and two elephant feet were created.
The third cave (Ayazma Cave) is a human-made water cistern.
30 – Trabzon Sumela Monastery: Sumela Monastery was built by carving rocks in the forest area at an altitude of approximately 300 m, on the foothills of Karadag in Trabzon’s Maçka district. The monastery, which dates back to the 13th century, has a total of 72 rooms in addition to service units, guesthouse, kitchen and holy spring. The monastery, which became fascinating with the addition of large buildings in the 19th century, is also known as the Church of Virgin Mary.
31 – Ani Ancient City: Ani Ancient City, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and also called the World City, Cradle of Civilizations, Thousand and One Churches and the City of 40 Doors, is located in Kars. Ani, which has hosted 23 civilizations since its foundation, was also the first gateway to Anatolia from the Caucasus. To date, 40 churches, chapels and mausoleums have been identified in Ani.
32 – Aghtamar Church: Built in Van in 915, Aghtamar Church is considered one of the most important works of medieval Armenian art in terms of architecture. The exterior of the church is decorated with scenes taken from the Bible. According to rumors, the church was built to protect a piece of the True Cross that was brought to Van after being smuggled from Jerusalem to Iran.
33 – Mor Gabriel Monastery: The monastery in the Midyat district of Mardin, known as the homeland of the Assyrians, was built in 397 by Mor Şmuel (Samuel) and his student Mor Şemun (Simon), on the ruins of a Zoroastrian temple. Mor Gabriel Monastery is the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world. The monastery is of great historical importance with its unique structures from the 5th and 6th centuries, Byzantine mosaics, domes and doors.
34 – Kubbet-ül İslam, Ahlat: Ahlat, one of the three cities described as Kubbet-ül İslam (Domes of Islam), is noted for its Seljuk Square Cemetery, old Ahlat settlement, cave houses from the neolithic age, tombs, green nature and Nemrut Crater Lake. is pulling. Kubbet-ul Islam, which dates back to 8000 BC, is one of the most culturally rich structures of Bitlis with its cave houses and nature.