A few words about the church
The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) and is the largest church in Pera. It was built during the rule of Sultans Abdülaziz and Abdul Hamid II and inaugurated on 11 September 1880. It is one of the most majestic churches the Greeks of Constantinople have built after the Fall of the City. The church was designed by architect Potessaros over a 13-year period, i.e. 1867-1880 and is a domed cruciform basilica.
The church stands out for its Gothic style with the two characteristic belfries. The templon with the icon stand is made of marble and its rose windows are exquisite. Most of the icons are Byzantine of western style. The church was fully refurbished and re-inaugurated on 23 March 2003.
The soup kitchen
The soup kitchen of Agia Triada of Stavrodromi was created in October 1935 at the initiative of the clergy head of the Greek Orthodox Community of Stavrodromi at the time, Metropolitan of Eirinoupoli Konstantinos, and of the preacher of the church of Agia Triada deacon Polyefktos Finfinis and of the Church committee.
The purpose of the soup kitchen was to provide “adequate and substantial food” every day to needy pupils of the schools of the Greek Orthodox Community of Stavrodromi, namely of the Zografeio, the Zappeio, the Agia Triada School, the Agios Konstantinos School, the Central Girls’ School, the Nane school and the Aynali Cesme school.
A significant factor for the successful operation of soup kitchens were - and still are - the volunteering directresses. Most of them were members of prominent families of the Greek-Rum Community.
They had been bred to honour the values of offering and helping their fellowmen.
Their offering through the soup kitchen was the essence of charity in practice, since they - despite their high social status - set an example of simplicity and giving.
Currently the soup kitchen still offers a lot with the same enthusiasm, under the auspices of the Clergy Head of the Greek Orthodox Community, His Eminence Metropolitan of Tranoupoli Germanos, with the care of its excellent directresses.
