Blachernae, the iron church, the Patriarchate: five hours through the Orthodox city.
Pilgrims come to Istanbul from all over the world to visit the shrines of the city, and every place on this route carries its own story. The Church of the Theotokos of Blachernae became a centre of faith when the Robe of the Mother of God was brought here in the fifth century; its miraculous spring still draws pilgrims today. The Church of St Stephen is an iron church in the literal sense: after the old wooden building burned, it was raised in cast iron at the end of the nineteenth century and given to the Bulgarian Orthodox community, a symbol of friendship between the two countries. St George's Cathedral in Fener has been the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople since 1601; inside are a gilded iconostasis, mosaic icons, tall ivory candelabra and the relics of Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. The route closes at the Blachernae Palace, a well preserved Byzantine building of red brick and white marble, now a museum, with a rooftop view over the city. Five hours with a guide versed in both theology and history; appropriate coverings are provided where required.
Stops flex with the weather, traffic and your guest's pace.
What to know before you go
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Deepen the programme with these touches.
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