Saint Polycarp Church Situated in the heart of the Konak district of İzmir, the Saint Polycarp Church is a Catholic place of worship named in honor of its patron saint, Saint Polycarp. The Saint Polycarp Church, located in İzmir’s Konak district, was originally built in 1625 with the approval of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I, following a request by King Louis XIII of France. It suffered significant damage during the 1688 Smyrna earthquake but was restored between 1690 and 1691. A fire in 1763 destroyed the adjacent monastery, which was later reconstructed. The church underwent another major renovation in 1775 with support from King Louis XVI of France, transforming it into a three-nave basilica. A commemorative marble plaque honoring Louis XIII was placed inside in 1820. Between 1892 and 1989, architect Raymond Charles Péré expanded the structure by adding chapels adorned with frescoes that illustrate scenes from the life of Saint Polycarp. Although the church was later destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in 1929. The church features a rectangular layout and three aisles, oriented from east to west. It is distinguished by its octagonal bell tower positioned on the southwest corner. Saint Polycarp, for whom the church is named, was converted to Christianity by St. John the Evangelist and served as the Bishop of Smyrna. He was martyred in 155 AD for refusing to abandon his faith, and his memory is honored annually on January 26th. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding Saint Polycarp Church, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will respond as soon as possible.