23 December 2017•Update: 23 December 2017
By S.Ahmet Aytac
ISTANBUL
A total of 14 churches and a temple have been restored in Turkey from 2003 to 2017, an official statement said.
The restored worship places included Great Synagogue in western Edirne province, Aya Nikola Church in Gokceada district of western Canakkale province, Syrian Catholic Church in Iskenderun district of southern Hatay province, Armenian Protestant Church in Sur district of southeastern Diyarbakir, Church in Nizip district of southern Gaziantep province, Taksiyarhis () Church in Cunda island of western Balikesir province, Edirnekapı Aya Yorgi Church and Balat Iron Church (Stevi Stefan Church) in Istanbul.
The Sveti Stefan Church in Balat, which is the only iron church, will reopen after nine years of restoration with a ceremony to be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Jan. 7.
