Aya Yorgi Church – Büyükada
Located atop Yüce Hill, the highest point of Büyükada, Aya Yorgi Church is one of Istanbul’s most significant religious and historical landmarks. According to Patriarchate records, the original structure dates back to 1751, while the current stone church was built in 1905. Dedicated to Saint George, it is recognized as one of the two Christian pilgrimage sites in Turkey, alongside the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus.

Each year on April 23 and September 24, thousands of visitors climb to the church—many barefoot—to make wishes and fulfill a spiritual tradition known as becoming a “semi-pilgrim.” Surrounded by legends and steeped in Byzantine history, Aya Yorgi Church remains a deeply spiritual and culturally rich destination on Büyükada.