The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church in Balat (Istanbul), known as the Iron Church, was renovated with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov after nine years of restoration. The ceremony was attended by Bulgarian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva, Grand Mufti Mustafa Aliç Hacı in representation of the Muslims and Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria, representing the Orthodox community. Diplomatic Mission Chiefs, as well as religious leaders from Istanbul and Turkish Bulgarian citizen leaders of the civil society joined the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Erdoğan mentioned that" Istanbul is a city where different religions and cultures live together in peace". Prime Minister Yıldırım expressed his belief that "additional cooperation opportunities will emerge in this process, where Bulgaria is taking up the EU presidency". Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov thanked President Erdoğan for his cooperation. The Marmara Group Foundation also participated with a delegation at the ceremony. The ribbon was cut by Patriarch Neophyte, Grand Mufti Mustafa Aliç Hacı, Jewish Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva and Patriarch Bartholomew.