Saint Polycarp Church

Saint Polycarp Church (Turkish: Aziz Polikarp Kilisesi) is a Catholic church in İzmir, Turkey. Its patron saint is Polycarp.[1]

Saint Polycarp Church
Aziz Polikarp Kilisesi
Religion
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Patron	Polycarp
Location
Location	Konak, İzmir, Turkey
Geographic coordinates	38°25′32.2″N 27°08′08.5″E
Architecture
Completed	1625
Materials	Stone brick

History

Saint Polycarp Church was built in 1625 with the permission of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I and at the request of the French King Louis XIII.[1][2] The church building was damaged in the 1688 Smyrna earthquake and the fire that broke out in the following months.[2] It was repaired between 1690–1691.[2] The monastery of the church was damaged in the fire in 1763.[2] The church was restored in 1775 with the contribution of the French King Louis XVI and became a three-nave basilica.[1][3] In 1820, a marble commemorative plaque was hung in the church in honor of Louis XIII.[2] The church, in which chapels were added during the restoration carried out between 1892–1989, was decorated with frescoes depicting the life of Polycarp, made by French architect Raymond Charles Péré.[1] It was destroyed by the great fire of Smyrna and was rebuilt in 1929.[2]

Architecture

Built using stone and brick, the church is now a rectangular basilica with three naves.[1][3] It is located in the east–west direction.[1][3] There is an octagonal bell tower in the southwest of the church.[1][3]

References

1. "Saint Polycarpe Kilisesi". İzmir İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
2. "İzmir'in Koruyucu Aziz'i: Sen Polikarp". İzmir Kültür ve Turizm Dergisi. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
3. Gültekin, Eser. "Antik Smyrna Kenti'nin Koruyucusu St. Polycarp Adına Yapılan Bir Kilise: 'St. Polycarp'". DergiPark. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

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