Osmanlı Devleti'nde Kilise ve Havra Politikasına Yeni Bir Bakış: Çanakkale Örneği

The construction of new churches and synagogues was not allowed in the Ottoman Empire in accordance with the Sharia law up until the proclamation of the Reform Edict of 1856. The repair or reconstruction of existing temples in accordance with their original forms was bound only to the approval of the Sultan himself. Besides, enlargement or alteration of buildings or any parts thereof during repairs was strictly forbidden. Any violation of this rule led to the demolition of the altered or enlarged parts. There are indeed large number examples of such cases. Against these strict rules, there are many surviving new churches and synagogues which have been constructed in the cities founded during the Ottoman period, or in the cities captured or surrendered during the expansion period. In addition, numerous new churches and even monasteries were built in the villages or rural areas in the 16th-18th centuries, especially in the Balkans. The main question is how they were built and were escaped from destruction. There are no examples of the granting of official permission for the construction of these buildings by the Sultans, yet it can be observed that these new churches and synagogues have acquired legitimacy in time. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Greek and Armenian churches as well as a Jewish synagogue appeared in Çanakkale as well. Besides, an unauthorized Catholic church was built in the city in the year 1852. In this article, after looking through the official Ottoman policy concerning the repairing or (re)construction of churches and synagogues and its examples in practice, we will study the process of the emergence of Greek, Armenian, Jewish and Catholic temples in Çanakkale. We will also evaluate the Ottoman Empire’s policies about churches and synagogues in Çanakkale before and after the proclamation of the Reform Edict of 1856