AYDINPINAR CHURCH

A beautiful district in olive groves, Aydınpınar adds up to cultural mosaic of Mudanya with Hagios Apostoloi Church… The church was reportedly constructed in the time of Bursa Metropolitan Bishop Konstantios between 1846 and 1870, is still standing after two centuries. Aydınpınar was actually a Greek settlement called Misebolu. After 1922, the church was transformed into a mosque and belfry was employed as minaret. This historical monument underwent several reparations in various periods. Eventually, the belfry was demolished and a minaret was erected instead between 1952 and 1956. Upon the construction of a new mosque in 1980, the old building was abandoned. 1901 dated epitaph on the gate indicates the year of reparation. The church is still an important asset for Mudanya. The walls of this church with big rectangular plan are still intact despite all devastation… There is a cross on the stone at top right corner of the gate. Wooden carvings are still wonderful in spite of degradations. Engravings, motifs and original leaded glasses offer a visual feast; while some walls display hand-carved prayers and verses. On the main gate, the Greek marble epitaph written in Latin alphabet stands out with the following words: “Oh Lord! How beloved are your houses.”