Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reopens Agios Charalambos Church

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the reopening ceremony of the historic Agios Charalambos Church in Bebek, located on the European coast of the Bosphorus. The church, which has served as a center for the local Greek community since the 19th century, underwent extensive structural, architectural, and electromechanical restoration.

The renovation project was funded by Byron Nicolaides, founder and president of PeopleCert. According to officials, the initiative aimed to preserve the building not merely as a historical monument, but as an active place of worship and a gathering point for the community. The restoration work included substantial maintenance to ensure the historical character and physical integrity of the site were maintained.

The ceremony was attended by various religious and community leaders, including Metropolitan Athenagoras of the Bosphorus Region, as well as representatives of the Greek diaspora and local officials.