if the patriarch of constantinople is taken to be one of the most prominent leaders in the eastern orthodox communion, then the church of st. george in istanbul (greek: καθεδρικός ναός του αγίου γεωργίου "kathedrikós naós tou agíou geōrgíou"; ) – the seat of the ecumenical patriarch – may perhaps be one of the most important religious sites for eastern orthodox christians.