Saint Polycarp Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Polycarp Church (Turkish: Aziz Polikarp Kilisesi) is a Catholic church in İzmir, Turkey. Its patron saint is Polycarp.[1]
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| Saint Polycarp Church | |
|---|---|
Aziz Polikarp Kilisesi | |
| |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic Church |
| Patron | Polycarp |
| Location | |
| Location | Konak, İzmir, Turkey |
 Interactive map of Saint Polycarp Church | |
| Coordinates | 38°25′32.2″N 27°08′08.5″E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1625 |
| Materials | |
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History
Saint Polycarp Church was built in 1625 with the permission of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I and at the request of the French King Louis XIII.[1][2] The church building was damaged in the 1688 Smyrna earthquake and the fire that broke out in the following months.[2] It was repaired between 1690–1691.[2] The monastery of the church was damaged in the fire in 1763.[2] The church was restored in 1775 with the contribution of the French King Louis XVI and became a three-nave basilica.[1][3] In 1820, a marble commemorative plaque was hung in the church in honor of Louis XIII.[2] The church, in which chapels were added during the restoration carried out between 1892–1989, was decorated with frescoes depicting the life of Polycarp, made by French architect Raymond Charles Péré.[1] It was destroyed by the great fire of Smyrna and was rebuilt in 1929.[2]
