The Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul

The spiritual heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, The Ecumenical Patriarchate occupies a relatively humble complex in one of Istanbul's oldest neighborhoods, packed with notable structures from both the Ottoman and Byzantine periods. The patriarchate's main feature is a church dedicated to St. George, an unassuming building with a 19th-century facade designed in the neoclassical style. Unimpressive on the outside but lavishly decorated on the inside, the church remains a major place of pilgrimage for Orthodox believers from around the world. Pay special attention to the iconostasis and look for boxes containing relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory the Theologian. Put The Ecumenical Patriarchate and other Istanbul attractions into our Istanbul trip planner, and watch your holiday take shape.