Yeni Kapu - St. Arakel

The St. Arakel Armenian Church in Yeni Kapu, Istanbul is an Armenian Apostolic church located in the Yenikapi neighborhood of Istanbul. It was founded in 1835 and was originally a small chapel built by Armenian immigrants from the town of Malatya in Eastern Anatolia. The chapel was dedicated to St. Arakel, an Armenian saint and martyr.

In the late 19th century, the chapel was expanded and renovated to its current form, with the addition of a belfry and a larger sanctuary. The church has a rectangular plan and is built in the traditional Armenian architectural style. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes and ornate wood carvings.

During the Armenian Genocide in 1915, the church was used as a shelter for Armenian refugees who had fled from their homes in Anatolia. Many of these refugees eventually emigrated to other countries, but the church remained a focal point for the Armenian community in Istanbul.