site.bta126 Years of Faith: Celebrating Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St Stephen in Istanbul

Hundreds of Orthodox Bulgarians from Istanbul, along with compatriots from Bulgaria, gathered on Friday at the Church of St Stephen, also known as the Bulgarian Iron Church, situated on the shores of the Golden Horn in Istanbul.

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated in honour of St Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon, the first martyr of the Christian faith, after whom the unique Bulgarian Orthodox church is named.

The year 2024 marks 126 years since the consecration of the iconic Bulgarian church, regarded as one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in Turkiye.

The Divine Liturgy, lasting nearly three hours, was conducted with great solemnity. The church choir of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul sang hymns and chants, enriching the liturgical celebration.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I graced the service with his presence. Representing Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria and the Holy Synod was Bishop Tikhon of Tiveriopolis.

Among the attendees were prominent guests, including the Bulgarian Consul General in Istanbul, Vasil Valchev, the Bulgarian Consul General in Edirne, Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, donors to the church from Bulgaria, compatriots who travelled specifically for the occasion, representatives of the St John of Rila Seminary in Sofia, and numerous pilgrims and tourists.

In his homily, Bartholomew commemorated the 1,160th anniversary of the Baptism of the Bulgarians, hailing it as a monumental event in the history of Orthodox Christianity. 

He praised the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul, under the leadership of Dimitri Yotef, Chairman of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul, for their steadfast commitment to preserving the Orthodox faith and traditions and for maintaining close ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Bartholomew imparted his blessing upon those present, praying for peace, unity, and prosperity for the Bulgarian people. On behalf of the Bulgarian community, a richly adorned icon and a staff were presented to him as tokens of respect and gratitude.

Archimandrite Haralampi Nichev, the priest for the Bulgarian churches in Istanbul, spoke of the profound veneration of St Stephen. He explained, "St Stephen is called the Protomartyr because he was the first to bear witness to the Christian faith through martyrdom, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Therefore, the Orthodox Church honours him with great reverence and solemnity on St Stephen's Day, celebrated on the third day after the Nativity of Christ."

Following the Divine Liturgy, individuals who contributed to the preservation and restoration of the Church of St Stephen were honoured with special awards.

Vasil Valchev, the Bulgarian Consul General in Istanbul, told BTA that the church festival attracts an increasing number of participants each year, including Bulgarians from Istanbul, pilgrims from Bulgaria, and visitors from abroad.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St Stephen, located along the Golden Horn, was constructed on July 14, 1896, and consecrated on September 8, 1898. After undergoing extensive restoration, funded primarily by Turkiye with support from Bulgaria, the church was restored to its original splendour. It was ceremoniously reopened for worship and liturgical services on January 8, 2018, in a celebration attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and then-Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. Since its reopening, the Church of St Stephen has become a prominent pilgrimage and tourist destination in Istanbul, drawing visitors from across the globe.