Church of St. Louis - Beyoglu
Church history
The history of the Church of St. Louis in Constantinople is inseparable from the history of the French Capuchin monks. The first Capuchins arrived in Constantinople in 1626 and settled on the grounds of the French embassy in 1628. In 1660, a real church was built, which was gradually transformed. This church was consecrated on August 25, 1673. In 1685, "ambassadors, clergy and other distinguished persons" were allowed to be buried here.
The church finally became a parish church at the beginning of the 18th century. It was rebuilt twice in this century, first by the French Ambassador Count des Alleurs (1747-1754) and then in stone in 1788 by Father Godfrey of Amiens, later Archbishop of Naxos.
The church was again destroyed in the great Pera (Beyoğlu) fire of 1831. After the fire, the reconstruction of the church took several years. It was finally completed in 1846, parallel to the reconstruction of the Palais de France.
Mass Times
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Sunday:
French 11:00
The existing buildings represent the Louis-Philippe style (1830-1848). The architect was Pierre Laurécisque (1797-1848), who lived for a long time in Istanbul and is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery. Two grave markers in the church commemorate the death of his wife and son in Istanbul in 1847.
The church was consecrated on May 1, 1847 by Father Mauro de Leonessa, Apostolic Prefect, in the presence of Ambassador François-Adolphe de Bourqueney (1841-1848). In 1914 the church was confiscated and the clock and bell were removed. However, the church was restored in 1919 and gradually restored until 1923 (as evidenced by the inscription on the chancel frieze).
Access to the two main facades of the church is restricted: the chancel faces the gardens of the Palais de France and the bell tower is on the side of the courtyard of the Lycée Pierre Loti, located in the adjacent convent.
The church clock was restored in 2009.
Saint Louis today
St. Louis remains today, as it has been for almost three centuries, the church of the French community in Istanbul. The former Capuchin Seminary building became the property of the French government and was allocated to the Lycée Français Pierre Loti. After a period of transition, in 2003 the church was entrusted to the Franciscan Friars Minor, who replaced the Capuchin brothers.