Patr. Bartholomew Meets President Erdoğan in Ankara

ANKARA, TURKEY — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 16 at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, where the two discussed matters concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey.

Accompanying the Patriarch were Metr. Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Bp. Kassianos of Aravissos, abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery of Halki. During the meeting, held in what the Patriarchate described as a cordial atmosphere, Patr. Bartholomew thanked the Turkish president for the opportunity to discuss issues affecting the Patriarchate and the Roman Community.

A central topic of the discussion was the future of the Holy Theological School of Halki, which has remained closed since 1971. The participants reviewed ongoing dialogue involving Turkey's Ministry of National Education, the Higher Education Council (YÖK), and representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the possibility of reopening the historic institution. The school has long been viewed as a vital center for Orthodox theological education and a symbol of religious freedom for the Patriarchate.

Following the meeting, Patr. Bartholomew and the accompanying hierarchs were scheduled to return to Constantinople later the same day.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the European Court ruled that Turkey had violated the rights of Greek Orthodox priests.