St. Voukolos Orthodox Church

St. Voukolos Orthodox Church

It was allocated to Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in 2003. The restoration project, which was prepared by the Izmir Advanced Technology Institute Faculty of Architecture and Department of Architectural Restoration between 2004-2007, was carried out by the Izmir No.1 Regional Board for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Assets, and the restoration work started after the site was handed over in December 2008. With the high technology restoration works implemented, the figure of Christ hidden behind layers of paint and murals symbolizing St. John with the Golden Mouth and the angels Michael and Gabrielwere also brought to light. The outbuilding building of the church was arranged as 'İzmir Press Museum' and put into service. Journalist Metin Göktepe's sweater, Uğur Mumcu's first computer, and Abdi İpekçi's typewriter, which were brought to the city with the cooperation of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İzmir Journalists Association and Ege University, which will also revive memories of events and names that are important in the history of the press are among those which are exhibited at the Press Museum. It is used in church culture and art activities.

The history

Saint Voukolos Church was built by the Greek Orthodox Community in the second half of the 19th century. It is an Orthodox Greek Church built in 1886, located in the province named after it,which is Kapilar Province, in Etiler Street. Although other Greek Churches in the city burned down during the great Izmir fire in 1922, Saint Voukolos Church was not affected by this fire. Later, the building, which lost its function after the Greeks left Izmir with the exchange, was turned into a Museum of Asar-ı Atika at the request of Atatürk in February 1924. It was organized as İzmir Archeology Museum in February 1927 and this situation continued until the museum building in Kültürpark was opened in 1951. With the proclamation of the Republic, with the importance of museum studies, some reliefs, sculptures, friezes and many historical artifacts were saved and put in their garden. In 1951, the museum was moved from here to the fairground. The building, known as the 'Gözlü Kilise'(meaning Church with Eyes), was later used as a warehouse and was allocated to the İzmir State Opera and Ballet Directorate for a period, but became out of use after an unfortunate fire. The building, whose ownership belongs to the State Treasury, was registered as a cultural asset to be protected with the circular number 152 dated 17 January 1975.