04/07/2023
The special significance of Balat in Istanbul's history lies in the fact that it was settled by Spanish Jews and continued to exist as a mainly Jewish quarter until recently. In addition, the settlement of Jews around Balat also attracted Georgian Jews to this area. Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain came to Istanbul at the invitation of Sultan Bayezid II. As of the fifteenth century, the Jewish community of Istanbul resided in Balat and opposite the bay in Haskoye.[3] Surviving examples of Jewish homes abound in the inner part of the neighborhood. These buildings are usually three storeys tall with narrow facades, with protrusions such as large windows on the second and third floors.
When you enter from the ancient gate of Balat, you will find the Yanbol Church on the right side and slightly forward there is the Ahrida Church, which was built by the Jews who came from the town of Ohrid in Macedonia. It is believed that the oldest church in Balat is there, but the current construction date is from the mid-19th century.
Court Jews immigrated to Israel starting in the fifties. As the rest moved to other quarters of the city, very few Jews remained in Balat. There is also the Orthodox Church of Ayios Strati in the neighborhood. The main mosque in the area is the Farwa Kethuda Mosque, which was the work of Mimar Sinan. As for the Surp Hreshdegabet church, it is a little away from the mosque, and it was originally a Romanian Orthodox church, but it was given to the Armenian Gregorian community.
