Today we headed to the old City to visit a Church and a Monastery. Our first stop was at the Church of St. Mary Blachernae - http://www.triposo.com/poi/Church_of_St2e_Mary_of_Blachernae_28Istanbul29.
We went in to view the church and pray and light candles. During our visit a school group from Greece entered the church. Our two Priests let us in singing the hymn Christ Has Risen! since we were there after Easter.
We then went to the area with the faucets for Holy Water and had a sip and the church assistant provided us with bottles to fill with the Holy Water so we can take it home.
We then took a short visit to the gift shop and then to the bus to go to the next stop, the Church of the Life Giving Spring in the Balouki Monastery.
http://www.triposo.com/section/Life-giving_Spring
The spring is located under the Church. In the courtyard are the tombs of Patriarchs.
After lighting candles and praying we got back to the bus for a ride to the Ferry terminal where we were going to one of the Princess Islands, Halli to visit the Church and Theological School.
After a pleasant 45 min ferry ride we got off at Halki to get a ride to the Church.
Cars are not allowed on the island so we took horse drawn buggy to the top of the hill to the Church.
The Church and School and other buildings as well as the grounds were in very good condition. the classrooms are all set up and waiting for students.
In the Church we viewed a rare two sided wooden Icon.
Our group then headed to a view area where we could see Istanbul in the distance as well as some of the other islands.
After taking photos we went back to the road to get into our buggies for a ride to the port. We had about 30 mins before the ferry arrived and this was our chance to get lunch or a snack. We found a donner stand and had a beef/lamb donner and soda.
Boarding the Ferry we headed back to Istanbul and the bus. Our last stop of the day was to attend Vesper Services at the Patriarch- the Church of St. George.
After the Vespers our guide had arranged for us to visit the Vicar since the Patriarch was travelling. The Bishop welcomed us, treated us to coffee and a chocolate and a small cross as a gift.
We then went to the smallest gift shop I ever saw- it was the size of a closet and only two people at a time could enter and buy gifts.
We had group photos taken and then back to the bus to go to the hotel and dinner.
This was a busy day but we did a lot and really enjoyed it. I have always dreamt of going to Halki island and to St. George.
NOTES- I found out from watching a Greek TV series on the Mega channel that there are a lot of active Greek Orthodox Churches in Istanbul.
In front of the two Churches we visited today Turkish vendors set up street stalls selling postcards and other items that were related to the Church we were visiting. None of us purchased anything from these vendors.
We went in to view the church and pray and light candles. During our visit a school group from Greece entered the church. Our two Priests let us in singing the hymn Christ Has Risen! since we were there after Easter.
We then went to the area with the faucets for Holy Water and had a sip and the church assistant provided us with bottles to fill with the Holy Water so we can take it home.
We then took a short visit to the gift shop and then to the bus to go to the next stop, the Church of the Life Giving Spring in the Balouki Monastery.
http://www.triposo.com/section/Life-giving_Spring
The spring is located under the Church. In the courtyard are the tombs of Patriarchs.
After lighting candles and praying we got back to the bus for a ride to the Ferry terminal where we were going to one of the Princess Islands, Halli to visit the Church and Theological School.
After a pleasant 45 min ferry ride we got off at Halki to get a ride to the Church.
Cars are not allowed on the island so we took horse drawn buggy to the top of the hill to the Church.
The Church and School and other buildings as well as the grounds were in very good condition. the classrooms are all set up and waiting for students.
In the Church we viewed a rare two sided wooden Icon.
Our group then headed to a view area where we could see Istanbul in the distance as well as some of the other islands.
After taking photos we went back to the road to get into our buggies for a ride to the port. We had about 30 mins before the ferry arrived and this was our chance to get lunch or a snack. We found a donner stand and had a beef/lamb donner and soda.
Boarding the Ferry we headed back to Istanbul and the bus. Our last stop of the day was to attend Vesper Services at the Patriarch- the Church of St. George.
We then went to the smallest gift shop I ever saw- it was the size of a closet and only two people at a time could enter and buy gifts.
We had group photos taken and then back to the bus to go to the hotel and dinner.
This was a busy day but we did a lot and really enjoyed it. I have always dreamt of going to Halki island and to St. George.
NOTES- I found out from watching a Greek TV series on the Mega channel that there are a lot of active Greek Orthodox Churches in Istanbul.
In front of the two Churches we visited today Turkish vendors set up street stalls selling postcards and other items that were related to the Church we were visiting. None of us purchased anything from these vendors.
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