Samatya
Encyclopedia
Samatya is a neighborhood of the Fatih
district of Istanbul
. It is located along the Marmara Sea, and borders to the west on the neighborhood of Yedikule (the "Castle of the Seven Towers"). The name originates from the Greek word Ψαμάθιον (pr. Psamathion), meaning "sandy", because of the great quantity of sand found in the neighborhood.
About 383 AD the first monastic institution was established in Constantinople, at Psamatheia, at that time still outside the walled city.
Up to recent times, Samatya was mostly inhabited by Armenians
, who were settled here in 1458 by Sultan Mehmet II, and who own there the church of Surp Kevork
, also called Sulu Manastiri (Water's monastery) – previously an eastern ortodox church which dates back to before the Ottoman conquest
, and by Greeks
, who have the churches of Hristos Analipsis and Haghios Menas
.
The neighborhood was destroyed in 1782 by one of the largest fires of Istanbul ever recorded.
In Samatya there is also an important public hospital, the İstanbul Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi.
Samatya has a station (named "Kocamustafapaşa") on the suburban railway line
Sirkeci-Halkalı.
One of the most picturesque fish markets of Istanbul is placed in the quarter, just opposite the train station.
Samatya is also a favorite place for Turkish directors. One of the most famous Turkish TV shows, Ikinci Bahar (Second Spring), as well as Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys
, were filmed in Samatya.
Nowadays Armenians leave Samatya as they move to other central parts of Istanbul. They are replaced by people coming from the south-east region of Turkey.
Fatih
Fatih is a municipality and district in Istanbul, Turkey that encompasses most of the peninsula coinciding with historic Constantinople. In 2009, the district of Eminönü, formerly a separate municipality located at the tip of the peninsula, was merged into Fatih...
district of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. It is located along the Marmara Sea, and borders to the west on the neighborhood of Yedikule (the "Castle of the Seven Towers"). The name originates from the Greek word Ψαμάθιον (pr. Psamathion), meaning "sandy", because of the great quantity of sand found in the neighborhood.
About 383 AD the first monastic institution was established in Constantinople, at Psamatheia, at that time still outside the walled city.
Up to recent times, Samatya was mostly inhabited by Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, who were settled here in 1458 by Sultan Mehmet II, and who own there the church of Surp Kevork
Church of St. George of Samatya
Saint George of Samatya or Surp Kevork is an Armenian church in Istanbul....
, also called Sulu Manastiri (Water's monastery) – previously an eastern ortodox church which dates back to before the Ottoman conquest
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
, and by Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, who have the churches of Hristos Analipsis and Haghios Menas
Church of Saint Menas of Samatya
Saint Menas is a Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul.The edifice was built in 1833 near an early Christian Martyrion of the fourth or fifth century, possibly dedicated to the saints Carpus and Papylus Saint Menas (Greek: Ἄγιος Μηνάς – pr. Hágios Menás – Turkish: Ayios Minas Kilisesi) is a Greek...
.
The neighborhood was destroyed in 1782 by one of the largest fires of Istanbul ever recorded.
In Samatya there is also an important public hospital, the İstanbul Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi.
Samatya has a station (named "Kocamustafapaşa") on the suburban railway line
İstanbul-Halkalı Commuter Line
The İstanbul-Halkalı Line, also referred to as the İstanbul Commuter Railway, locally referred to as B1 . Carrying an average of 22,200 passengers daily, it is the second busiest commuter railway in Turkey, after the Haydarpaşa Commuter Railway....
Sirkeci-Halkalı.
One of the most picturesque fish markets of Istanbul is placed in the quarter, just opposite the train station.
Samatya is also a favorite place for Turkish directors. One of the most famous Turkish TV shows, Ikinci Bahar (Second Spring), as well as Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys
Three Monkeys
Three Monkeys a 2008 Turkish film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The film was Turkey's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Academy Awards, and it made the January short-list but was not nominated.-Plot:...
, were filmed in Samatya.
Nowadays Armenians leave Samatya as they move to other central parts of Istanbul. They are replaced by people coming from the south-east region of Turkey.