One of the oldest, still standing Greek Orthodox churches in Turkey is Agios Georgios, located approximately 15km from Alanya city centre, in the Hacı Mehmetli village near the resort town of Antalya.
Even though the exact date of the temple’s construction remains unknown, according to a carving in the Museum of Alanya, referring to it in both Greek and Turkish, it was last restored in 1873 and was being used until 1924.
The municipality of Alanya has decided to renovate the church, which will cost up to AU$65,000 and is expected to be finished within four months.
As approved by the Antalya Regional, Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board, the church will be used as house of worship, cultural centre and multi-purpose hall.
“To protect Alanya’s history, we have begun renovating it for the tourism of the region,” Alanya’s mayor Adem Murat Yücel said.
The building has recently been made available to the Russian Orthodox Christians in the area who are allowed to perform liturgies once a month.
“We have information which indicates that before the population transfer between Greece and Turkey in 1922, it was used as a place of worship,” an official from the municipality said.
“Afterwards worshippers were able to pray here on special days and with official permission.”