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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 17 2012
Renovations on İstanbul church to resume
17 August 2012 / SEVGI KORKUT, ISTANBUL
Renovations on a Bulgarian church in İstanbul will be resumed once a
new architect is found following the death of the architect who was
leading the initial project.
The architect, Aziz Çakır, who was among the shareholders of the firm
ART-ÜN, was leading the renovation of Demir Kilise (the Iron Church),
located near the Golden Horn.
Çakır started the renovation project after winning the tender from the
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) for the renovation of the
church.
However, he died before completing the renovation and the heirs to
Çakır's share in the ART-ÜN firm applied to the municipality to cancel
the contract for the renovation project.
The inheritors explained that they are not architects, and, thus
cannot continue the project.
The İBB cancelled the contract and has begun to search for another
company that can continue the renovation.
Demir Kilise was founded when Bulgarian people living under the
Ottomans in İstanbul requested a place provided for them to pray
separately from members of Greek Orthodox churches.
The Ottomans allowed the building of a church for the Bulgarians.
Following this approval, a parsonage was constructed on the area where
Demir Kilise stands now.
The parsonage was converted into a wooden church in the following
years. Later, Armenian architect Hovsep Aznavur used an iron framework
for the reconstruction of the church to prevent it from sinking into
the soft ground along the Golden Horn.
The framework of the church was completed in the garden of the firm
which provided the materials for its construction. It was soon brought
to İstanbul via Danube River and Black Sea.
From: Baghdasarian
Aug 17 2012
Renovations on İstanbul church to resume
17 August 2012 / SEVGI KORKUT, ISTANBUL
Renovations on a Bulgarian church in İstanbul will be resumed once a
new architect is found following the death of the architect who was
leading the initial project.
The architect, Aziz Çakır, who was among the shareholders of the firm
ART-ÜN, was leading the renovation of Demir Kilise (the Iron Church),
located near the Golden Horn.
Çakır started the renovation project after winning the tender from the
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) for the renovation of the
church.
However, he died before completing the renovation and the heirs to
Çakır's share in the ART-ÜN firm applied to the municipality to cancel
the contract for the renovation project.
The inheritors explained that they are not architects, and, thus
cannot continue the project.
The İBB cancelled the contract and has begun to search for another
company that can continue the renovation.
Demir Kilise was founded when Bulgarian people living under the
Ottomans in İstanbul requested a place provided for them to pray
separately from members of Greek Orthodox churches.
The Ottomans allowed the building of a church for the Bulgarians.
Following this approval, a parsonage was constructed on the area where
Demir Kilise stands now.
The parsonage was converted into a wooden church in the following
years. Later, Armenian architect Hovsep Aznavur used an iron framework
for the reconstruction of the church to prevent it from sinking into
the soft ground along the Golden Horn.
The framework of the church was completed in the garden of the firm
which provided the materials for its construction. It was soon brought
to İstanbul via Danube River and Black Sea.
From: Baghdasarian