Turkey has restored 14 churches, 1 synagogue since 2003

A total of 14 churches and a temple have been restored in Turkey from 2003 to 2017, an official statement said.

The restored worship places included Great Synagogue in western Edirne province, Aya Nikola Church in Gökçeada district of western Çanakkale province, Syrian Catholic Church in Iskenderun district of southern Hatay province, Armenian Protestant Church in Sur district of southeastern Diyarbakır, Fevkani Church in Nizip district of southern Gaziantep province, Taksiyarhis (Ayanikola) Church in Cunda island of western Balıkesir province, Edirnekapı Aya Yorgi Church and Balat Iron Church (Stevi Stefan Church) in Istanbul.

The Sveti Stefan Church in Balat, which is the only iron church, will reopen after nine years of restoration with a ceremony to be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Jan. 7.