Contemplate the silent stones before you. This is the Kadıköy Rum Ortodoks Mezarlığı. It is a place of rest for Istanbul’s Orthodox community.
Kadıköy Rum Ortodoks Mezarlığı stands as a testament to Istanbul’s diverse history. It is a place where stories linger in the stone. Established in 1895 the cemetery reflects the city’s rich cultural tapestry. Sultan Abdul Hamid II made this land available to the Greek community. It spans ten acres in the Hasanpaşa / Uzunçayır area of Kadıköy.
The need for a new burial ground arose in the 19th century. The Greek population grew. The old cemetery was located at Söğütlüçeşme and Bahariye streets intersection.
The Kadıköy Rum Ortodoks Mezarlığı is not just for Greeks. It welcomes Orthodox Christians of various nationalities. Russians Serbians and Bulgarians also rest here. Even Arab and Turkish Christians find their final place here. Clergy who served the Metropolis of Chalcedon are buried here too.
Notice the Church of Saint Ignatius. It stands within the cemetery. Construction finished in 1898. Pavlos Maksutov secured the building permits. He was the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy. The church honors Ignatios of Constantinople. Its architecture shows Russian influences. The interior follows a three-aisled domed basilica plan.
Consider the charnel house. It preserves bones from old graves. An ossuary lies beneath the chapel. It holds exhumed remains from former burial grounds.
The cemetery reflects a decision made during Sultan Abdülaziz’s reign. Cemeteries were moved outside settlements for sanitary reasons. However church authorities continued using old cemeteries until the 1880s.
Meliton Metropolitan of Chalcedon rests here. He served as Metropolitan from 1966 until his death in 1989. Mimar Constantine P. Pappa also rests here since 1931. Also Ayla Karaca a Turkish actress of Greek origin is buried here.
Today the Kadıköy Rum Ortodoks Mezarlığı continues to serve. It is a place of remembrance. It also stands near the Kadıköy Latin Katolik Mezarlığı and Kadıköy Ermeni Mezarlığı. They lie side by side on Taşocağı and Zeamet streets. This proximity highlights the diverse religious communities of Kadıköy.
As you leave take a moment to reflect. The Kadıköy Rum Ortodoks Mezarlığı tells a story. It speaks of faith community and history. It is a place where the past remains present.