Istanbul, May 24, 2022
Photo: ec-patr.org
Panagia Paramythia Fanari in Istanbul, known as Vlach Saray (“Palace of the Wallachians), was once a major church in the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Situated a few hundred yards from the current seat of the Patriarchate, it briefly served as the Patriarchal cathedral from 1587 to 1597, and it was there that the Patriarchal honor of the Moscow Patriarchate was ratified.
Photo: ec-patr.org
In 1970, the church was destroyed by fire.
Yesterday, a joyous event took place, as Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople presided over the first Liturgy in the church in 52 years, the Patriarchate reports.
The church previously saw Divine services at least once, as the Patriarch celebrated a paraklesis there in 2011.
Pat. Bartholomew was joined at the Liturgy by several other hierarchs, clerics, monastics, and faithful from Istanbul.
According to Mystagogy, princes of Moldovlachia (Romania) were once crowned in this church, as the rulers of Wallachia used to have palaces in this section of the city, and so the church came to be known as Vlach Saray.
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