MUDANYA ORTHODOX CHURCH

(UĞUR MUMCU CULTURAL CENTER) 

This stupendous monument is the most important and greatest church of Orthodox Greeks in Mudanya. Today, it serves as Uğur Mumcu Cultural Center. The exact date of construction and name of builder are unknown. The Orthodox Church in downtown Mudanya has a seven-line epitaph dated to 1834 on one of windows on northern façade. The epitaph reads as follows: “In order to be commemorated and due to his piousness, Iordines, son of Anastasiou and our good fellow-citizen, has donated all sculpted stones on the façades of this holy church from his olive grove in Palaikhorio. Mudanya (Moundanion) expresses gratitude for him.” In the past, the house of one of the priests was known as “Priest’s Home”. The building was restored in 2007 pursuant to its original form and reached our day. The church lost its function as place of worship following the departure of Greeks from Mudanya according to exchange agreement. It served as movie theater for a long time, before being repaired by Mudanya Municipality in 1993. Since then, the monument became Uğur Mumcu Cultural Centre.

Today, the former church hosts social and cultural activities, meetings, conferences, music and theater performances.