Syriac Christians to get first church in Istanbul

Prominent Syriac community leader, Kenan Altınışık (C) says the construction is set to begin as soon as suitable lands for the new church building are allotted. Vercihan Ziflioğlu ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News 5/10/2011 Turkey’s Syriac Christian community has secured approval from officials for the construction of its first church. The church, planned to be constructed in the Yeşilköy neighborhood, is expected to host 17,000 Syriacs who live in Istanbul After years of tussling and hairsplitting, Turkey’s Syriac Christian community has secured approval from both the prime minister and the president for the construction of its first church in the Yeşilköy neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul.