Brief Chronology of the Catholic
Parishes of Smyrna
Parish of the Holy Rosary in Alsancak
(From the booklet prepared by P. Stefano for the 90th anniversary of the parish in 1994)
Note: P. Stefano states that Raymond Peré also had a project for the Punta church, but it was never realized.
Parish of St. Polycarp in Alsancak
(From Histoire la paroisse française Saint Polycarpe d'Izmir of Fernand Say)
Note: According to Fernand Say, the first list of the French population dates from 1670, made of, 101 family heads, 28 women, 56 children, 84 servants or slaves. The oldest seems to be Charles Jullien, established in Smyrna for 30 years. The less than half of the population were merchants and the remainders consisted of: 17 cooks, doctors, surgeons, shoemakers, writers, tailors, clockmakers, bakers…
Parish of St. John the Baptist at Buca
According to an interview with Padre Marco Dondi, the actual responsible priest of the church (Izmir Life September 2005), there was a monastery in Buca that was providing religious training to the all the Oriental world. Despite a crowded Christian population in Buca, circa 170 years ago, there wasn’t a church. The population had to go to this monastery for religious services. Later it was decided to build a church. According to P. Dondi, 1831 is the construction date, but he states that the church was opened officially in 1840. The church was restored in 1954 and re-painted in 2004.
Parish of St. Helene at Karşıyaka
(From PRESENCE November 2004, Author: Frère P. Caporal)
PRESENCE is a monthly magazine of the Catholic Church in Turkey, published in French in Istanbul, for the past 20 years.
Note: The baptism register in 1882 had already the title “Archidiocesis Smyrnensis Paroecia Sa. Helenae, Cordelio”.
Parish of St. Anthony at Bayraklı
Cathedral of St. John
27 December 1862 First stone on a land bought by the Archbishop
25 May 1874 Inaugurated
Note: Listing compiled by Fabio Tito, with the assistance of Padre Stefano Negro.
Click to view a selection of Catholic church choir and priests photos.
Parish of the Holy Rosary in Alsancak
| Around 1718 | Armenian Dominicans priests arrive to Smyrna from Naxivan |
| 1755 | Opening of the first convent |
| 1845 | Fire and destruction of the convent |
| 1857 | A land in the Punta district is bought from the Michele and Mario Braggiotti brothers |
| 1859 | Construction of a little church dedicated to St. Peter and Paul on this land. |
| 21 July 1903 | A “firman” of the Sultan Abdülhamid authorizes the construction of a new church of the dimensions: 36x11 m with a height of 12 ½ m, with a bell tower of 25 m. |
| 4 October 1903 | First stone for the construction of a new bigger church, according to the project of the engineer Luigi Rossetti. |
| 1 October 1904 | Consecration of the new church of the Madonna of the Holy Rosary and foundation of the parish. |
(From the booklet prepared by P. Stefano for the 90th anniversary of the parish in 1994)
Note: P. Stefano states that Raymond Peré also had a project for the Punta church, but it was never realized.
Parish of St. Polycarp in Alsancak
| 1621 | The French consul creates a chapel in his house |
| 1623 | The chapel became general parish of all Christians of the Latin rite |
| 1630 | A chapel and a convent are built on a land of the consul |
| 1630 | The court of Rome declare this chapel: “Parish of the French” |
| 1631 | Louis XIII declare this chapel: “Parish of the French” |
| 1631 | The land is bought by Louis XIII |
| 1663 | Order that give it the title of “Royal Foundation” |
| 1688 | Chapel and convent are destroyed by an earthquake |
| 24 July 1690 | Construction of the Church begins |
| 25 January 1691 | The construction works end |
| 1739 | Earthquake |
| 1742 | The convent burns |
| 1763 | The convents burns and damages on the church |
| 1774 | Authorization to reconstruct the church |
| May 1775 | End of the reconstruction works |
| 1820 | A commemorative tablet for this foundation |
| 1898 | The church is enlarged and decorated |
(From Histoire la paroisse française Saint Polycarpe d'Izmir of Fernand Say)
Note: According to Fernand Say, the first list of the French population dates from 1670, made of, 101 family heads, 28 women, 56 children, 84 servants or slaves. The oldest seems to be Charles Jullien, established in Smyrna for 30 years. The less than half of the population were merchants and the remainders consisted of: 17 cooks, doctors, surgeons, shoemakers, writers, tailors, clockmakers, bakers…
Parish of St. John the Baptist at Buca
According to an interview with Padre Marco Dondi, the actual responsible priest of the church (Izmir Life September 2005), there was a monastery in Buca that was providing religious training to the all the Oriental world. Despite a crowded Christian population in Buca, circa 170 years ago, there wasn’t a church. The population had to go to this monastery for religious services. Later it was decided to build a church. According to P. Dondi, 1831 is the construction date, but he states that the church was opened officially in 1840. The church was restored in 1954 and re-painted in 2004.
Parish of St. Helene at Karşıyaka
| 1874 | The foundation of a chapel |
| 1882 | The Archbishop Timoni declare it as parish. The chapel was small for a population of around 150 families and 850 persons. |
| 18 April 1902 | A “firman” authorizes the construction of a new church on a land of 2100 “zira” offered by the Count Nicola Aliotti. The dimensions of the church: 39x20 m with 14 m height. Architect: Raymond Peré. |
| 17 June 1904 | First stone laid |
| 1906 | End of the construction works of the new church. |
(From PRESENCE November 2004, Author: Frère P. Caporal)
PRESENCE is a monthly magazine of the Catholic Church in Turkey, published in French in Istanbul, for the past 20 years.
Note: The baptism register in 1882 had already the title “Archidiocesis Smyrnensis Paroecia Sa. Helenae, Cordelio”.
Parish of St. Anthony at Bayraklı
| 1898 | The sultan gives the Bayraklı Hill to Yahya Hayati Paşa |
| 1899 | P. Giambattista of S. Lorenzo and two other priests went to Bayrakli to visit the Jamafta Family. There, Mr. Livorness proposes them to construct a church and a convent on a land donated to the Catholics. |
| 16 November 1901 | The Archbishop authorizes the capuchin priests to build a church and a house. |
| 29 June 1902 | The first mass is celebrated in the house of Mr. Mattesich with circa 30 Catholics. P. Giambattista declares to the community the construction of a new church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova, and also of an altar to St. Espedito (martyr at Malatya). |
| 14 July 1902 | The first stone of the church. At this period, there were 300 families in Bayraklı, all Christians, and mostly Catholics. |
| 7 August 1902 | The first stone of the convent |
| 4 July 1903 | A firman of the Sultan arrives |
| 1906-1910 | The construction is stopped due to economic problems |
| 13 August 1922 | Inauguration of the Church |
Cathedral of St. John
27 December 1862 First stone on a land bought by the Archbishop
25 May 1874 Inaugurated
Note: Listing compiled by Fabio Tito, with the assistance of Padre Stefano Negro.
Click to view a selection of Catholic church choir and priests photos.