The Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church — Attraction in Beyoğlu

Today I had a very bad experience with this church. I went to this church in the morning with a friend, and abslutely I regret it. At the enterance of the church there were some old men standing and smoking, they met us with surly faces and when we approached they asked us what do you want in Turkish language, we said we came for the mass here! They asked where are you from? We said we're Syrians. Then they said are you Syriacs? So I asnwered that we're Rum (Roman Orthodox), then one of them said you can find the church of Rum in another place !!!!! Since I'm an Orthodox Christian Syrian I expected to meet some people who may be close to my culture, but on the contrary I met people who are very closed to...

Somar Nasar’s review was my exact same experience. I went to the church and the nasty men outside the church flat out told me I wasn’t allowed because I was a foreigner. It was hard to tell whether they were actually associated with the church or not because of the door they were standing in. I could hear the Qadishat being sung as they told me there wasn’t Mass.

The Syriac Catholics on the other side of Beyoğlu, however, couldn’t have been more open and friendly. I understand that tensions are high right now and security is a real concern. But the other Orthodox and Catholic churches in Istanbul have done a great job of being open and welcoming even during this...

I visited it on Sunday and, even though the (extremely kind) people who were inside told us that the church was closed, one of the members of the community was extremely nice and allowed me inside, explaining several things related not only to the building but also the Church. According to him, there are services every day, therefore I assume it is not tough to visit it, usually. And...