Ayios Fokas Greek Orthodox Church
Ayios Fokas Greek Orthodox Church; It was built in 1719 on Ortaköy Muallim Naci Street on the Rumelia side of the Bosphorus. It is known that the first name of Ortaköy was Argion. It is known that the first church here was built by Basileos of Macedon in the 7th century. A monastery and additional buildings were built in this church over time. It is known that it also served during the Byzantine period. For this reason, it is known that the name of the district is pronounced as Ayios Fokas. Sultan III. A big fire broke out in the district in 1719 during the reign of Ahmet. The church also burned down in this fire. In place of the burned church, a new church of the same size was built in the same place by the sultan's decree. Later, in the fire in 1853, this church, along with the mosque and social buildings of the district, burned down. Thereupon, in 1856, with the decree of Sultan Abdülmecit, permission was given to build a church once again. This event and Abdülmecit's name are written in the inscription on the door to the naos in the church. The architect of the church is stated as Savvas Kalfas. The bell tower of the church was built in metal to the north of the building.
