On the evening of May 23, dozens of old Romans climbed the steps of the Galata school with the relative hardships of old age, but also with unrest.

It was the same marble staircase that many of them had climbed in their student years in one of the most beautiful buildings in the City, gradually collapsing with wear and tear. But thanks to recent sponsorship from the Martin Foundation, it has been restored and turned into a cultural center that opened its doors last week with a major exhibition titled “Adorable Constantinople.”

Items from the collections of the Athanasios and Marina Martinou Foundation, as well as from the Vehbi Kots Foundation, form a common body of exhibits, an elegant tribute to curators Fani Maria Cigaku and Julija Bilgi. The ribbon was cut by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spouses Martinu and Rahmi Bey Kots, and the “gift” at this important moment was made by selected members of the diaspora. It was an evening of Greek-Turkish cultural cooperation, which shows the excellent relations between the two peoples, the indestructible, deep close connection.

The Galata School was built in 1885 with donations from Eleni Zarifi and began functioning as a school in 1910. She played an important role in education, as her teachers were personalities who left their mark on the education of gypsies in an era of prosperity. His students were taught all subjects in Greek, French as a foreign language, while there were hostels, classrooms, reception halls and a kindergarten. As an educational institution, it endured all the adventures that befell the Greek community of the city, and in 1988 ceased operations. Between 2000 and 2007 it became a kindergarten again.

In 2012, the Council of the General Directorate of Foundations decided to return the building, registered in the name of the Turkish state, to its rightful owners, namely the Ephorate of the Galata community and temples. However, the building, which from time to time hosted art events as part of the City Biennale, needed restoration. At the same time, there were concerns about its continued use. A new role had to be found for this architectural gem.

The shipowner Thanasis Martinos responded to the call of the Romans, who made a decisive contribution to the second life of the school as a cultural center. In the process of looking for suitable people to carry out the work, he contacted Ark Insaat, owned by Rahmi Bey Kots. This was the beginning of a friendship that resulted in a joint exhibition. The Martin Foundation provided magnificent paintings and panoramas of 18th and 19th century Constantinople. The Kotz Foundation offered stunningly beautiful pieces of Orthodox religious art made of silver and ivory. They were first collected by Rahmi Bey’s sister, the late Sevgi Ginil, who donated them to the Sadberkhanum Museum. Thus, it has become paradoxical that the Greek collector represents pieces of Turkish history, and the Turks – Greek.

The same collaborative spirit characterized the relationship between the two curators, Fanis Maria Cigaku on behalf of the Martinos Foundation and Julija Bilgi of the Sudberk Museum. Thus, the Beloved Constantinople exhibition reminds us that small miracles can be born, such as this exhibition, based on a series of good coincidences.

Athanasios Martinos, Maria Komorosano, the “soul” of the School, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke at the opening.