Syriac Patriarch Younan visits newly built Syriac Orthodox Mor Ephrem Church in Istanbul

ISTANBUL — As part of his pastoral trip to Istanbul, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mar Ignatius Joseph III Younan visited the newly constructed Syriac Orthodox Mor Ephrem Syriac Church.

The Patriarch was accompanied by Patriarchal Vicar in Turkey Archbishop Orhan Şanlı, Monsignor Habib Murad, Father Jimmy Sarkis, and Mr. Ibrahim Khabout.

They were warmly received by Father Fitros Gulshe, Mr. Kenan Kordal — President of the Syriac Orthodox National Council of the Patriarchal Vicariate in Istanbul — and his deputy Turkay Altinılişik. These representatives had been delegated by Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul Archbishop Mor Philoxenus Joseph Chetin, , who had earlier welcomed His Beatitude at his residence.

During the visit, the Patriarch led a thanksgiving prayer and celebrated the Divine Liturgy, asking God to bless both Syriac Churches in Turkey and to grant peace and security to the Middle East and the world. He then toured the new Mor Ephrem Church and its adjacent building, which now serves as the headquarters of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicariate in Istanbul. The new facility was completed alongside the church’s construction.

At the conclusion of the visit, Patriarch Younan blessed this important ecclesiastical achievement, which he described as a vital sign of the growing Syriac Christian presence in Turkey — particularly in Istanbul. He praised the efforts of Archbishop Joseph Chetin and all clergy and faithful involved in the project, invoking the intercession of Saint Ephrem and praying for God’s continued blessing upon them.

During his time in Istanbul, the Patriarch also offered prayers for the repose of the souls buried in the Patriarchal Vicariate cemetery. He paid a visit to Archbishop Mor Philoxenus Joseph Chetin at his residence and was welcomed at the headquarters of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Vicariate.

On the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, the Patriarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. He also visited Bishop Yusuf Saagh, the former Patriarchal Vicar in Turkey, to inquire about his health and well-being.