![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180509.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180515.jpg?w=797&h=531&ssl=1 "Christmas Mass in Turkey's Istanbul")
People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]
![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180508.jpg?w=395&h=264&ssl=1 "Christmas Mass in Turkey's Istanbul")
People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]
![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180509.jpg?w=395&h=263&ssl=1 "Christmas Mass in Turkey's Istanbul")
People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]
![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180512.jpg?w=596&h=397&ssl=1 "Christmas Mass in Turkey's Istanbul")
People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]
![People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018_12-25-xmas-in-turkey20181224_2_34102330_40180513.jpg?w=596&h=397&ssl=1 "Christmas Mass in Turkey's Istanbul")
People attend a Christmas mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Istanbul, Turkey on 24 December 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]