TURKISHCOURSE

Detail from iconostasis of St George Church, depictions of St George and Virgin Mary.

The Cathedral Church of St George is a Greek Orthodox church, being the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the senior patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church, and of the Ecumenical Patriarch, recognized as the spiritual leader of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians. The church is located in the Fener district of Istanbul. Behind the church are the offices of the Patriarchate and the Patriarchate Library. The Church, which was part of a convent or monastery before becoming the seat of the Patriarch, is outwardly unimpressive, but its interior is lavishly decorated. Inside the Church you can see very beautiful mosaics, icons and paintings. You will be able to see three very nice sarcophagus made of silver and copper. Inside this sarcophagus there are bodies of saints. There is a very special black marble stone which came form Israel. It is said that Jesus was tied to this stone before being crucified.