The Greek Orthodox Community of Stavrodromi is administratively attached to the Archdiocese of Constantinople.
Stavrodromi is the area opposite old Istanbul. It starts from the end of Galata and reaches Sisli. It includes the districts stretching to the right and left of the Istiklal Avenue (Megali Odos tu Peran). Galata had been an inhabited district for many centuries, especially in the Byzantine era when it was assigned to Venetian and Genoese merchants.
Over time, the Orthodox Community was developed. This development in the area required orthodox churches to be built, for practising religious worship. In 1804, during the term of patriarch Callinicus V and under authorisation of Sultan Selim III, Architect Chatzis Comnenos built the church dedicated to the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (Isodia tis Theotokou). The foundation stone was set by a prince, Dimitrios Mourouzis. A year later, the creation of this new parish, the Greek Orthodox Community of Stavrodromi, was ratified by patriarchal sigillium letter.
The area of Pera took its name from the Greeks-Rums of Istanbul, who run through the area, forming a cross. The area was also called “Peran” (across) because it was located opposite to the Golden Horn. The Turkish name of the area is “Βeyoğlu” which means the son of the bey, possibly due to the fact that it was where the Prince of the Trebizond Empire, David Komnenos was held captive.
The increase of Christian Orthodox population in the area resulted in two more, new churches. The church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni at the foot of Pera hill is completed in 1861 and the Agia Triada church at Taksim square in 1880, being an imposing landmark in the urban fabric, symbolising the financial and political power of Greek-Rum upper class.
