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As Pope Leo XIV prepares to begin his first trip abroad with a visit to Turkey to mark an important event that shaped the foundation of Catholic And within Orthodox Christianity, there is renewed optimism over the prospect of reopening Greek Orthodox theological seminaries, closed since 1971.
Halki Theological School has become a symbol of Orthodox heritage and a focal point for religious freedom in Türkiye.
Located on the island of Hebeliada, off the coast of istanbulThe seminary once trained generations of Greek Orthodox patriarchs and priests. They include Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Turkey closed the school under laws restricting private higher education, and despite repeated appeals from international religious leaders and human rights advocates – as well as subsequent legal changes that allowed private universities to flourish – it has remained closed ever since.
motion The demand for reopening appeared to be increasing after the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump at the White House in September. Erdogan said Turkey would “play its role” in relation to the reopening. Erdogan had previously linked the move to Greece’s reciprocal measures to improve the rights of Muslims there.
The school, which was established in 1844, is surrounded by scaffolding as renovation work continues. Inside, a floor that serves as clergy quarters and two classrooms have already been completed, ready to welcome students when the seminary reopens.
‘Political and diplomatic anachronism’
During his visit to Turkey starting on November 27, Leo is scheduled to meet Erdogan and join Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in a pilgrimage that honors the theological roots of Christianity. After this he will go to Lebanon for the second leg of his visit.
Archbishop Elpidophoros, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, told The Associated Press in a video interview from his base in New York that Turkey is now ready to take a big step “for the benefit of Turkey, for the benefit of minorities and for the benefit of religious and minority rights in this country” by reopening the seminary.
A committee of representatives from the Istanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the Turkish government has begun discussing the reopening, with Elpidophoros expressing hope that the school can welcome students again by the start of the next academic year.
“Closing this school after more than 50 years is a political and diplomatic malpractice that does not help our country,” the Istanbul-born archbishop said. “We have a lot of private universities and private schools in Turkey, so just keeping Halki closed doesn’t help Turkey, doesn’t help anyone.”
test of religious freedom
The fate of the seminary has long been seen as a test of predominantly Muslim Turkey’s treatment of religious minorities, including the country’s Christian population, estimated at 200,000 to 370,000 out of about 86 million.
Since coming to power in 2002, Erdogan’s government has implemented reforms to improve the rights of religious groups, including opening places of worship and returning some confiscated property – but problems remain.
Although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, only Armenians, Greeks and Jews – non-Muslim minorities recognized under the 1923 peace treaty that established the borders of modern Turkey – are allowed to operate places of worship and schools. Other Christian groups lack formal recognition and often face obstacles registering churches or religious associations.
There have been isolated incidents of violence, including a 2024 attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul, where a worshiper was killed during Mass. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Turkey denied recent reports claiming it had deported foreign nationals associated with Protestant groups as a national security threat. Turkey attributed the claims to a “deliberate disinformation campaign” against the country.
In July 2020, Turkey converted Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia – once one of Christianity’s most important historic cathedrals and a UN-designated World Heritage Site – from a museum back to a mosque, a move that drew widespread international criticism. Although the Pope has visited Hagia Sophia in the past, the important landmark was left off Leo’s itinerary.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, based in Istanbul, is internationally recognized as “first among equals” in the Orthodox Christian world. However, Turkey does not recognize its ecumenical status, and insists that under the 1923 treaty, the Patriarchate is only the head of the country’s ever-dwindling Greek Orthodox minority. The patriarchate dates back to the Orthodox Greek Byzantine Empire, which collapsed in 1453 when the Muslim Ottoman Turks conquered the Byzantine Empire from Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.
‘A school with this spirit’
At the closed seminary, Agnes Kaltsogianni, a visitor from Greece, said the seminary was important to both Greece and Turkey and that its reopening could be the basis for better relations between the two long-time rivals.
“There should be gradual improvement at all levels between the two countries and this (location) can be the starting point for major cultural development and affinity,” said the 48-year-old English teacher.
Elpidophoros, 57, was too young to reach Halki and was forced to study at a Greek seminary to join the clergy. However, he served as the abbot of Halki Monastery for eight years before his appointment as Archbishop of America.
He said, “The Theological School of Halki is in my heart.”
Asked about the school’s importance to the Greek Orthodox community, Elpidophoros said Halki represents a “spirit” that is open to new ideas, dialogue and coexistence, while rejecting nationalist and religious prejudice and hate speech.
“The whole world needs a school with this spirit,” he said.
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Fraser reported from Ankara, Türkiye.