About
Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Monastery (Yücetepe): A Spiritual Journey on Büyükada’s Highest Peak
📍 Location: Yücetepe Hill, Büyükada – Istanbul
🕍 Established: 963 AD (During the reign of Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phokas)
🕰 Visiting Hours: Open every day from 08:00 to 16:30
🎟 Entrance: Free
✝️ Religious Affiliation: Greek Orthodox
🚶♀️ Access: Reachable on foot or by bicycle from the Büyükada ferry pier
A Sacred Site at the Top of the Island
Located on the highest point of Büyükada, the largest and arguably the most beautiful of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, Aya Yorgi Monastery (Agios Georgios) offers visitors a serene and spiritual escape with breathtaking views of the Marmara Sea.
The monastery is dedicated to Saint George (Georgios), a Roman officer from Cappadocia who was martyred in the 3rd century AD for his Christian faith. His tomb lies in present-day Palestine, and he is venerated across the Eastern Orthodox world.
A Thousand-Year Legacy and a Miraculous Icon
According to tradition, the monastery was built in 963 AD during the Byzantine era. The miraculous icon inside the church was a gift from the women’s monastery of Empress Irene also located on Büyükada.
An imperial edict by Emperor Manuel Komnenos from 1158 mentions this site by the name "Kodono", and 19th-century historian
