Christians make up less than 0. 5% of Turkeys 84 million inhabitants. Armenians, Greeks, Syrians, Latins, or Protestants. even in tiny numbers, they represent historical Christian communities.
The one-person attack on an Italian Catholic church in Istanbul last Sunday has been attributed to the Islamic State group. While the congregation was celebrating Mass, two masked attackers broke into the Chiesa of Santa Maria and opened fire, killing one of the worshippers. Turkish police subsequently apprehended the perpetrators.
This latest attack strikes one of Turkeys already heavily burdened Christian communities. The percentage of Christians has consistently decreased since the late 19th century, when they made up between 2020 and 2025 percent of the population. As of right now, they account for less than 0 percent of Turkey’s 84 million inhabitants, or just about 100,000. 5% of the countrys predominantly Sunni Muslim population.
Turkey, a country with a rich and complex history, has been home to Christians for centuries. While the number of Christians in Turkey has declined significantly over the years, they still form an important part of the country’s cultural and religious landscape.
A Long and Tumultuous History:
The history of Christianity in Turkey dates back to the early days of the religion. The Apostle Paul established churches in Asia Minor, and the region was a center of early Christian thought and practice. However, the relationship between Christians and Muslims in Turkey has been fraught with tension and violence.
The Ottoman Era:
During the Ottoman Empire, Christians were considered second-class citizens. They were subject to discriminatory laws and taxes, and they were often persecuted. The 19th century saw a series of massacres of Christians in Turkey, culminating in the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.
The Republic of Turkey:
After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the situation for Christians improved somewhat. However, they still faced discrimination and restrictions. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of religious intolerance in Turkey, and Christians have once again become targets of violence and harassment.
Current Situation:
Today, there are estimated to be between 120,000 and 320,000 Christians in Turkey. They belong to a variety of denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Assyrian. Christians in Turkey face a number of challenges, including discrimination, harassment, and violence. However, they are also working to preserve their faith and culture.
A Look at the “Thirty-Year Genocide”:
The book “The Thirty-Year Genocide” by Benny Morris and Dror Ze’evi provides a detailed account of the persecution and massacre of Christians in Turkey between 1894 and 1924. The authors argue that this period of violence was not simply a conflict between Turks and Armenians, but rather a systematic attempt to eliminate all Christians from Turkey.
Key Points from the Book:
- The “Thirty-Year Genocide” was not a single, coordinated campaign of killing, but rather an epidemic of fanaticism, bigotry, and unchecked violence.
- The genocide was fueled by a combination of factors, including the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the arrival of Muslim refugees from the Balkans and Greece, and the interference of foreign powers.
- The genocide was not limited to Armenians. Assyrians, Greeks, and other Christians were also targeted.
- The Turkish government has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the genocide, and it continues to persecute and discriminate against Christians.
The history of Christians in Turkey is a complex and tragic one. While the number of Christians in Turkey has declined significantly, they still form an important part of the country’s cultural and religious landscape. It is important to remember the history of the “Thirty-Year Genocide” and to work to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
Additional Resources:
- Wikipedia: Christianity in Turkey
- Commonweal Magazine: What Turkey Did to Its Christians
- The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey’s Destruction of Its Christian Minorities by Benny Morris and Dror Ze’evi
- Christians in Turkey
- History of Christianity in Turkey
- Ottoman Empire
- Armenian Genocide
- Republic of Turkey
- Religious intolerance
- Discrimination
- Persecution
- “The Thirty-Year Genocide”
- Benny Morris
- Dror Ze’evi
FAQs:
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Christian communities from both East and West
Armenians comprise the largest of several diverse Christian communities in Turkey. Approximately 60,000 descendants of those who survived the genocide in 1915–1916 are thought to be living in the nation at the moment. Among these Armenians, there are 5,000 Catholics and 55,000 Apostolic Armenians, affiliated with the Armenian Apostolic Church (autocephalous). This Church has around thirty church building in Istanbul and its suburbs, with 45,000 faithful. The rest are settled in eastern Anatolia.
Following in order are the twenty-five thousand Eastern Christians who are members of the Syriac, Chaldean, and Maronite patriarchates. There are roughly 20,000 Syriacs, including Assyrians or Orthodox who follow their autocephalous Church and Catholics who joined Rome. They live in Istanbul or in their original region, Tur Abdin, located on the Syrian-Iraqi border. The Federation of Syriac Associations’ head, Evgil Türker, estimates that there are 300 monasteries and 2,500 churches.
There are also 2,000–3,000 Greeks in Istanbul who are descended from those who survived the massacres and forced relocations that occurred during the Turkish Republic’s founding. In addition, about 10,000 Orthodox Christians—Arabs or Greeks—dwell in Antioch, in what was once Alexandretta’s sanjak. This Syrian province was annexed by Turkey in 1939 and renamed Hatay. The Christians who remained there are predominantly Arabic-speaking. Antioch was partially destroyed by earthquakes on February 6th last year.
Finally, there are numerous Latin communities, spread across Istanbul, the coast, and western Turkey, totaling approximately 20,000 faithful. There are also 2,000 Protestants living in the country. In addition to these historical communities, there are Turkish converts to Christianity. Since these individuals often hide their conversion, it is difficult to estimate their numbers. In 2007, the German newspaper Der Spiegel estimated their number at 10,000. These figures are only estimates.