Saint Mary Draperis (Italian: Santa Maria Draperis, Turkish: Meryem Ana Draperis Latin Katolik Kilisesi) is a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul, important for historical reasons. Established in 1584, the church is one of the most ancient Roman Catholic parishes of Istanbul.
The edifice lies in Istanbul, in the district of Beyoğlu, at 215, Istiklal Caddesi,[1] (the ancient Grande Rue de Pera), at the bottom of a steep staircase, which is protected by an artistic fence.
History
In 1453, a few months before the OttomanConquest of Constantinople, Observant FranciscanFriars completed the construction of the church of Saint Anthony of the Cypresses (Italian: Sant'Antonio dei Cipressi) in Sirkeci (at that time center of the venetian Merchants in Constantinople), on the southern bank of the Golden Horn, but soon after the Conquest they were forced to abandon it.[2] After several peregrinations, in 1584 they moved to Galata, in the neighborhood of Mumhane (English: Candle workshop), where a Levantine woman, Clara Maria Draperis, endowed them a house with a tiny chapel.[2][3] The altar of the chapel was adorned with a wooden icon portraying the Virgin Mary. The chapel burned completely in 1660, and the icon was rescued by a member of the Draperis family.[2] In case of total destruction because of fire, Ottoman law imposed the restitution of the land to the State.[4] Because of that, in order to rebuild the church the friars should have first asked for a Sultan's Firman allowing the reconstruction, but in absence of that the just rebuilt church was demolished in 1663 by the Ottoman government.[2] The friars then abandoned the neighborhood and settled uphill in Pera, in a place named Dörtyol (four roads).[2] They built there in 1678 a new church, which burned in 1697, was rebuilt and destroyed again by the strong earthquake of 1727.[2] Erected once again, the edifice burned for the third time in 1767 and was finally rebuilt for the fifth time in 1769.[2] After each catastrophe the icon of the Virgin could always be rescued, and embellishes still today the main altar.[2] Together with St. Anthony of Padua, also on Istiklal Caddesi, and SS. Peter and Paul in Galata, the church was one of the three Roman Catholic Parishes in the Levantine quarter of Istanbul. During the 19th century S. Mary became one of the most prestigious Catholic Churches in the city. In 1803 its parish had a flock of 470 Levantines, plus several Arab Catholics from Aleppo and Armenian Catholics.[5]
The church is still officiated by reformed Franciscan friars who offer daily masses in Italian and mass in Spanish every Sunday.[3]
Architecture and interior
View from inside the church
The upper part of the complex façade on Istiklal Caddesi
The complex has an entrance in neoclassical style - embellished by a statue of the Virgin in a niche - on Istiklal Caddesi, which is followed by a flight of steps leading downhill to the church. The edifice has a rectangular plan and is covered by a barrel vault - decorated in 1874 - and has three naves. The church has a bell tower with square plan, not visible from the road. The imposing main altar, erected in 1772, is made of pink Carrara marble and is adorned with the Icon donated by Maria Draperis.[3] The church is adorned with four paintings, three being of Venetian school.[3] The first on the right side entering the church - painted in 1873 - represents the immaculate Virgin with two Franciscan saints.[3] The second represents Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the Stigmata at La Verna.[3] To the left of the presbytery there is a painting representing the death of Saint Joseph assisted by Jesus and Mary, while another one near the entrance represent Saint Roch, protector against plague, an illness which hit Istanbul several times in the past.[3] The Via Crucis, the statue of Saint Anthony and the fresco in the baptistery are all 1959 works of the Franciscan Father Alberto Farina.[3]
The two stained glass windows on the apse are of German school and represent Saint Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.[3] Inside the church, several inscribed gravestones from the 18th and 19th centuries (most of them in Italian or Latin) remember wealthy Levantine families, church's benefactors, bishops and Consuls of the European nations in Constantinople.[3]
Gallery
St Maria Draperis stairs to Istiklal Caddesi
St Maria Draperis stairs from Istiklal Caddesi
St Maria Draperis interior
St Maria Draperis altar area
St Maria Draperis ceiling in apse
St Maria Draperis St. Francis of Assisi
St Maria Draperis St. Clare of Assisi
References
^. My merhaba. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
Mamboury, Ernest (1953). The Tourists' Istanbul. Istanbul: Çituri Biraderler Basımevi.
Schmitt, Oliver Jens (2005). Levantiner. Lebenswelten und Identitäten einer ethnokonfessionellen Gruppe im osmanischen Reich im langen 19. Jahrhundert (in German). Munich: Oldenbourg Verlag. ISBN978-3-4865-7713-6.
S. Maria Draperis: Notizie sulla chiesa (in Italian), Istanbul: Parrocchia di S. Maria Draperis, 2012
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Maria Draperis.
. katolikkilisesi.org. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
March 10, 2023
church, mary, draperis, istanbul, saint, mary, draperis, italian, santa, maria, draperis, turkish, meryem, draperis, latin, katolik, kilisesi, roman, catholic, church, istanbul, important, historical, reasons, established, 1584, church, most, ancient, roman, c. Saint Mary Draperis Italian Santa Maria Draperis Turkish Meryem Ana Draperis Latin Katolik Kilisesi is a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul important for historical reasons Established in 1584 the church is one of the most ancient Roman Catholic parishes of Istanbul Church of Saint Mary DraperisMeryem Ana Draperis Kilisesithe entrance of the ChurchChurch of Saint Mary DraperisLocation in Istanbul41 01 49 N 28 58 33 E 41 03023 N 28 97572 E 41 03023 28 97572 Coordinates 41 01 49 N 28 58 33 E 41 03023 N 28 97572 E 41 03023 28 97572LocationBeyoglu IstanbulCountry TurkeyDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryDedicationSaint MaryArchitectureGroundbreaking1678Completed1769 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Architecture and interior 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksLocation EditThe edifice lies in Istanbul in the district of Beyoglu at 215 Istiklal Caddesi 1 the ancient Grande Rue de Pera at the bottom of a steep staircase which is protected by an artistic fence History EditIn 1453 a few months before the Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople Observant Franciscan Friars completed the construction of the church of Saint Anthony of the Cypresses Italian Sant Antonio dei Cipressi in Sirkeci at that time center of the venetian Merchants in Constantinople on the southern bank of the Golden Horn but soon after the Conquest they were forced to abandon it 2 After several peregrinations in 1584 they moved to Galata in the neighborhood of Mumhane English Candle workshop where a Levantine woman Clara Maria Draperis endowed them a house with a tiny chapel 2 3 The altar of the chapel was adorned with a wooden icon portraying the Virgin Mary The chapel burned completely in 1660 and the icon was rescued by a member of the Draperis family 2 In case of total destruction because of fire Ottoman law imposed the restitution of the land to the State 4 Because of that in order to rebuild the church the friars should have first asked for a Sultan s Firman allowing the reconstruction but in absence of that the just rebuilt church was demolished in 1663 by the Ottoman government 2 The friars then abandoned the neighborhood and settled uphill in Pera in a place named Dortyol four roads 2 They built there in 1678 a new church which burned in 1697 was rebuilt and destroyed again by the strong earthquake of 1727 2 Erected once again the edifice burned for the third time in 1767 and was finally rebuilt for the fifth time in 1769 2 After each catastrophe the icon of the Virgin could always be rescued and embellishes still today the main altar 2 Together with St Anthony of Padua also on Istiklal Caddesi and SS Peter and Paul in Galata the church was one of the three Roman Catholic Parishes in the Levantine quarter of Istanbul During the 19th century S Mary became one of the most prestigious Catholic Churches in the city In 1803 its parish had a flock of 470 Levantines plus several Arab Catholics from Aleppo and Armenian Catholics 5 The church is still officiated by reformed Franciscan friars who offer daily masses in Italian and mass in Spanish every Sunday 3 Architecture and interior Edit View from inside the church The upper part of the complex facade on Istiklal Caddesi The complex has an entrance in neoclassical style embellished by a statue of the Virgin in a niche on Istiklal Caddesi which is followed by a flight of steps leading downhill to the church The edifice has a rectangular plan and is covered by a barrel vault decorated in 1874 and has three naves The church has a bell tower with square plan not visible from the road The imposing main altar erected in 1772 is made of pink Carrara marble and is adorned with the Icon donated by Maria Draperis 3 The church is adorned with four paintings three being of Venetian school 3 The first on the right side entering the church painted in 1873 represents the immaculate Virgin with two Franciscan saints 3 The second represents Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the Stigmata at La Verna 3 To the left of the presbytery there is a painting representing the death of Saint Joseph assisted by Jesus and Mary while another one near the entrance represent Saint Roch protector against plague an illness which hit Istanbul several times in the past 3 The Via Crucis the statue of Saint Anthony and the fresco in the baptistery are all 1959 works of the Franciscan Father Alberto Farina 3 The two stained glass windows on the apse are of German school and represent Saint Francis and St Clare of Assisi 3 Inside the church several inscribed gravestones from the 18th and 19th centuries most of them in Italian or Latin remember wealthy Levantine families church s benefactors bishops and Consuls of the European nations in Constantinople 3 Gallery Edit St Maria Draperis stairs to Istiklal Caddesi St Maria Draperis stairs from Istiklal Caddesi St Maria Draperis interior St Maria Draperis altar area St Maria Draperis ceiling in apse St Maria Draperis St Francis of Assisi St Maria Draperis St Clare of AssisiReferences Edit Catholic Churches My merhaba Archived from the original on 6 March 2014 Retrieved 23 March 2012 a b c d e f g h Mamboury 1953 p 316 a b c d e f g h i j S Maria Draperis Notizie sulla chiesa 2012 Mamboury 1953 p 317 Schmitt 2005 p 108Sources EditMamboury Ernest 1953 The Tourists Istanbul Istanbul Cituri Biraderler Basimevi Schmitt Oliver Jens 2005 Levantiner Lebenswelten und Identitaten einer ethnokonfessionellen Gruppe im osmanischen Reich im langen 19 Jahrhundert in German Munich Oldenbourg Verlag ISBN 978 3 4865 7713 6 S Maria Draperis Notizie sulla chiesa in Italian Istanbul Parrocchia di S Maria Draperis 2012External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Maria Draperis Church of Santa Maria Draperis katolikkilisesi org Archived from the original on 2014 07 07 Retrieved 2014 06 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Church of St Mary Draperis Istanbul amp oldid 1141252784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
