​This Catholic church is situated in the old district of Beyoğlu (a sector of Istanbul that is currently the liveliest part of the city), on İstiklal Caddesi, a pedestrianized street constantly crowded with people. Besides Catholic faithful, since several decades this church also welcome, on a daily basis, some Orthodox or Armenian Christians, as well as a great number of Muslims (both Sunnis and Alevis). A wide range of practices can be observed inside the church. Several Muslim visitors burn candles and pray, look at the statues and contemplate the paintings and the stained-glass windows. Some sit in the pews for a moment.
Picture
© Dionigi Albera
Picture
© Dionigi Albera
Picture
© Dionigi Albera
Dr Dionigi Albera is an anthropologist and senior research fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). He is based at the IDEMEC (Institute of European Mediterranean and Comparative Ethnology, Aix-Marseille University), which he directed from 2006 to 2016.
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