Balyan Church - Istanbul

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Balyan is the family name of the chief architects of the Ottoman Empire in 18th century Istanbul.  They were the builders of the most distinguished buildings of that era, and of those still standing, the most notable is the Kempinski Palace on the Golden Horn.  The Patriarch of the Armenian Church, His Beatitude Mesrob II, has agreed to assist the Landmarks Foundation and the Historical Heritage Protection Foundation in the fundraising for the rescue of an exquisite small abandoned church within the Armenian Patriarchate in downtown Istanbul.  Designed by the Balyan family, it stands beside two other functioning Balyan buildings just across from the Patriarchal Palace.  With so many original architectural features still remaining, this Church is like a window into the history of Armenian architecture.

Our goal is to halt the advancing material decay and then conserve both the historic interior and exterior while creating a center and meeting place for the Armenian Community in Istanbul.  The Armenian Quarter in which the Complex stands is now being considered for redevelopment.  The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Department of the University of Pennsylvania is interested in collaborating with His Holiness and our foundations in replanning the entire historic neighborhood.