Surp Pırgiç Church
Surp Pırgiç Church is a church located in the Karaköy district of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul. Mahmud II issued an edict on April 6, 1830, and with this edict, he created a separate community called "Catholic Nation". The church was founded by Catholic Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, by Sultan II. It is the first church they built in Istanbul with the decree of Mahmud dated October 7, 1831. Its foundations were laid on May 12, 1832 by Archbishop Andon Nuriciyan and Minister Agopos Çukuryan. It was opened for worship on the day of Jesus' circumcision. The church was built of masonry with donations from the Armenian Catholic community. Inside the church is the tomb of the Emir of Lebanon, Bashar Shahabi. Despite the plague epidemic that broke out in Karaköy during the construction of the church, a picture of the Virgin Mary was circulated in the streets on March 25. When this action contributed to the decline of the plague, a diamond gift was given to the church by Sultan Mahmud II. The icon, which is still preserved in the church, is placed on the engagement during Easter. Since then, this event has been celebrated on March 25, the "Day of the Dead", after Easter. Its height is 10 cubits, its length is 45 cubits and its width is 31 cubits. The church opens to the courtyard with steps. The entrance of the building, emphasized by square pillars, is monumental. The pillars are made of smooth cut stone. The church was built with rough stone rubble. Apart from the main altar of the masonry building, there are four smaller altars. The narthex in the west of the building consists of three parts. The naos has a three-aisled cross scheme. The church has simple decorations, except for the half-round arched windows on its exterior and the monumental entrance movement.
