Heart and Soul: Istanbul鈥檚 church of wishes
In Istanbul, people of all faiths visit a Greek Orthodox Church on the first day of the month. Underneath is a sacred spring where devotees share their wishes and woes.
In Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, queues of people of all faiths visit a Greek Orthodox Church on the first day of each month to make a wish. Emily Wither spoke to devotees who shared their hopes and desires, as they stood patiently in long lines. No one knows exactly how the tradition started, but visitors take a gold key and descend the stairs to the underground Byzantine chapel to visit an ancient spring believed to have miraculous and spiritual powers. Once their wish comes true, they return the key to the church, who pass it on to others wishing for good luck.
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