Saint Polycarp Church

Saint Polycarp Church in the Alsancak district is the oldest continuously operating Catholic church in Turkey, dedicated to the early Christian martyr who was bishop of the city in the second century CE. The current building dates from 1620, though it has been restored several times, most recently after the catastrophic fire of 1922.

The church is active and serves İzmir's small Catholic community. It is open to visitors during the day, and the interior — modest but atmospheric — reflects the long Catholic presence in this cosmopolitan port city. The neighbourhood around it, with its mix of old Greek, Levantine, and Armenian heritage buildings, is worth exploring on foot.

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A story
Saint Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna who was martyred in 155 CE, burned alive in the city's stadium after refusing to renounce Christianity. He is one of the best-documented figures of early Christianity — his letters survive, and an account of his martyrdom was written by eyewitnesses within days of his death. A church dedicated to him has stood in İzmir since at least the Byzantine period. The current church, dating from 1620, was rebuilt after the great fire of 1922 and remains the oldest active Catholic church in Turkey.