Welcome

WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE!  Here you can find details of our usual services and events, the special services coming up and information about the Anglican presence in Izmir, past and present.  If you would like to find out more about us, do not hesitate to get in touch.  

REGULAR WORSHIP AT ST JOHN'S CHURCH, ALSANCAK  Our regular Sunday service, the Eucharist, is at 10.00 AM on Sundays. Whether you are a tourist or on business, or a resident of Izmir, you will be most welcome at our service, and for refreshments afterwards in the Church Hall.  Our congregation members come from many different walks of life and parts of the world, but our common language is English, which we use both in our worship and in our other meetings. We use the liturgy of the Church of England. For information about the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bornova, see separate page. 

LENT, HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2026

We invite you to join us in our keeping of the Holy Season of Lent, a time the Church gives us to draw closer to Christ, as we reflect on his journey to the Cross.  Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (18 February at 7.00 PM at St John's Church) when there is an opportunity during the liturgy to receive the sign of the cross on our foreheads as a sign of penitence, and solidarity in the search for holiness.  

This year we are encouraging our congregation members and friends to use the Church of England's free Everyday Faith app, which provides a Bible reading and short meditation with music for every day of Lent.  It is available to all and is an excellent way of deepening our faith during this holy season of preparation for Easter.   

ASH WEDNESDAY 7.00 pm 18 February: Holy Eucharist with the imposition of ashes 

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 10.00 AM on 22 February: Morning Prayer

PALM SUNDAY Liturgy with blessing of palms and procession at 10.00 AM on 29 March

MAUNDY THURSDAY Liturgy of the Last Supper, and watching with Christ 7.00 PM on 2 April

GOOD FRIDAY Liturgy of the Cross at 7.00 PM on 3 April

HOLY SATURDAY Easter Vigil with holy fire, at 8.00 PM on 4 April at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bornova

EASTER DAY Holy Eucharist at 10.00 AM on 5 April  

Please note: All the above services are at St John's Church, apart from the Easter Vigil, which is celebrated at the church of St Mary Magdalene, Bornova.  Evening Prayer takes place on Tuesdays at 5.30 PM at St Mary Magdalene's Church. 

KEEPING IN TOUCH If you would like to receive our email bulletin please email us at izmiranglican@gmail.com. We use Facebook to let people know about our services and meetings, and to share news about the church, our cats (Cleopatra and Henrietta), our garden and other stories.  Please 'like' our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/izmiranglican/  We keep this web site up to date, so you can find information about Christmas and Easter and other significant events, by checking on here.  

DONATING TO ST JOHN'S CHURCH  The ministry of St John's Church relies on the generous support of congregation members and friends of the church around the world. Please consider making a regular donation online.  This is the most effective and reliable way of giving, and is incredibly helpful for us.  If you would like to discuss making a regular, or a one-off donation towards our ministry in Izmir, please contact us at izmiranglican@gmail.com

SAFEGUARDING We take our duty to protect children and other vulnerable persons very seriously at our churches in Izmir.  The St John's Church Safeguarding Officer may be contacted by email at izmiranglicansafeguarding@gmail.com. To view the Diocese in Europe safeguarding policy please go to https://europe.anglican.org/safeguarding/safeguarding; To contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team please email europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org  or call +44 (0)207 898 1163

VIEWING OUR CHURCHES  St John's Church is often open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons (from 3 to 6), and at times of worship on Sundays.  Please contact us for further information, or to arrange a private visit.  You can find some pictures of our churches on this website, and do 'like' our Facebook page, where you can see many images of our churches and our church life.  

 Above: The Church of Saint John the Evangelist, Alsancak, Izmir

Below: The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, Bornova, Izmir