Dereköy Church

Dereköy Church is a monumental Greek Orthodox church located in the Dereköy neighborhood of the Mudanya district in Bursa province, constructed in 1857.^【1】

The building is situated within the boundaries of the Dereköy locality in Mudanya district, Bursa province. The church, located in Dereköy, whose former name in Greek was "Potamia" meaning "river," is officially registered under deed number 139, volume 78, page 93. The structure is currently under the ownership and protection of the General Directorate of Foundations.^【2】

After its construction, the church was used by the local Greek population until the population exchange process of 1922. Following the departure of the Greek community from the region in 1922, Muslim Turkish populations from areas such as Drama, Kavala, Ioannina, Karcaova, Langaza and the island of Crete around Thessaloniki were resettled in the area.

^{Dereköy Church (}Culture Portal⁾

As a result of this process, the building was converted into a mosque and served as such until 1972. From 1972 onward, the structure was no longer in use and suffered deterioration due to both natural factors and physical interventions.^【3】

Dereköy Church possesses high artistic value both in its overall architectural composition and in the liturgical elements contained within its interior. The interior features dense plaster and wooden decorations. Circular medallions above the windows on the north and south walls of the naos contain cherubim (angel) figures executed in plaster relief technique.

These reliefs are painted in green, maroon, red and gold leaf colors. The iconostasis within the church is regarded as a unique masterpiece among surviving examples from Anatolia, both in terms of technique and artistic merit.^【4】

Since the cessation of its function as a mosque in 1972, the building has suffered significant deterioration due to neglect and improper use. Parts of the interior decorations and reliefs have been removed and damaged by visiting tourists.

One of the key components of the church’s architectural integrity, the pulpit, has been placed under protection and relocated to the storage facility of the Bursa Archaeological Museum due to the damage sustained.^【5】