site.btaIstanbul Marked Iron Church Patron Saint's Day

Istanbul, December 27 (BTA exclusive by Nahide Deniz) - The St
Stephen's Bulgarian Iron Church in Istanbul marked its patron
saint's day on Friday.

On the initiative of the church board of the Bulgarian community
 in Istanbul, a liturgy was celebrated in the morning, led by
Metropolitan Naum of Rousse.

The service was attended by Bulgarians resident in Istanbul,
members of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in the city, and
tourists who had arrived expressly for St Stephen's Day.

The Iron Church was consecrated on September 8, 1898. The Church
 has been preserved thanks to a seven-year restoration project
funded by the Turkish Government by some 3 million euro and
assisted by the Bulgarian State.

On January 7, 2018, the restored Iron Church was re-inaugurated
at a solemn ceremony in the presence by Bulgarian Prime Minister
 Boyko Borissov and Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

Two years after the restoration, the Iron Church has emerged as
one of Istanbul landmarks most visited by people from all over
the world. Experts agree that it is the most beautiful Orthodox
church in Turkey. NV/MT