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Erdogan orders talks to reopen Orthodox Christian seminary in Turkey, a focus for Trump <p>ANKARA, June 21 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ordered officials on Sunday to resume talks on reopening an Orthodox Christian seminary near Istanbul, an issue raised by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit Ankara next month for a NATO summit.</p><p>The Halki seminary, founded in 1844 and shut by the Turkish state in 1971, played a central role in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Ecumenical Patriarchate's main theological school. It trained generations of Orthodox clergy, including the current patriarch Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul.</p>

TRT World - Turkey reopens the Sumela Monastery after four years ... Turkey's historic Sumela Monastery was officially reopened on Tuesday with the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan attending the online ceremony. It is one of Turkey's crucial faith tourism centres and underwent a restoration process that included landscaping, as well as the geological and geotechnical maintenance of rocks. President Erdogan rebuffed criticism over the court decision that paved the way for Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia to be reopened as a mosque last week. “If we were a nation targeting the symbols of other beliefs, the Sumela Monastery which we have had for the last five centuries, would be gone forever,” Erdogan said via video conferencing. “On August 15, our Orthodox citizens will be able to perform the [Litany of the Blessed] Virgin Mary religious service, which was suspended during the restoration period at the Sumela Monastery," he added. President Erdogan also had a telephone conversation with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew. Bartholomew expressed his gratitude to Erdogan for his support and interest in the restoration of the Sumela Monastery. History and importance of Sumel…

Erdogan-Trump talk fuels Orthodox hopes for Halki seminary reopening in ... Halki seminary [file photo] Newsroom September 26, 2025 26.09.2025 • 17:56 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has signaled he will soon meet with Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew to discuss the possible reopening of the Halki Orthodox seminary near Istanbul that has been shut for more than 50 years. Founded in 1844, Halki plays a central role in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the patriarchate’s main theological school. It trained generations of Orthodox clergy, including Bartholomew. US President Donald Trump brought up the issue in talks with Erdogan at the White House on Thursday, saying the Greek Orthodox Church had raised the issue when Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul, visited the US president a week earlier. Trump was referring to the seminary, on Heybeliada island near Istanbul, which was closed by the Turkish state in 1971. Muslim and secular Turkey has long faced pressure from Greece, the United States and European Union to reopen it. “We are ready to do whatever is incumbent upon us regarding the Heybeliada school,” Erdogan told Trump at their meeting. “I will have the opportunity to discus…

Hope Reignites: Pope's Visit Sparks Anticipation for Reopening Istanbul ... Up next Published on 24 November 2025 Author Internewscast Share article The post has been shared by 0 people. Facebook 0 X (Twitter) 0 Pinterest 0 Mail 0 Pope Leo XIV is gearing up for his inaugural international journey, with Turkey as his destination. This trip is not just another papal visit; it coincides with a significant milestone in the history of Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. Amidst this backdrop, there is a wave of optimism surrounding the potential reopening of the Greek Orthodox Halki Theological School, which has remained closed since 1971. The Halki Theological School holds immense symbolic value as a bastion of Orthodox heritage and represents a critical point in the ongoing discussions about religious freedoms in Turkey. Situated on the picturesque Heybeliada Island near Istanbul, this seminary has historically been a cradle for nurturing Greek Orthodox leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual guide for an estimated 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. Closure of the seminary was enforced under Turkish laws that restricted private higher education. De…

Erdogan orders talks to reopen Orthodox Christian seminary in ... Erdogan orders talks to reopen Orthodox Christian seminary in Turkey, a focus for Trump Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends the closing event of the SAHA 2026 International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo Published Jun 21, 2026, 08:20 PM Updated Jun 21, 2026, 08:20 PM ANKARA, June 21 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ordered officials on Sunday to resume talks on reopening an Orthodox Christian seminary near Istanbul, an issue raised by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit Ankara next month for a NATO summit. The Halki seminary, founded in 1844 and shut by the Turkish state in 1971, played a central role in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Ecumenical Patriarchate's main theological school. It trained generations of Orthodox clergy, including the current patriarch Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul. Trump raised the issue in talks with Erdogan in Washington last year. Muslim and secular Turkey has long faced pressure from Greece, the United States and Euro…

Revival hopes grow for long-closed Greek Orthodox seminary off Istanbul ... Hopes are growing that a long-closed Greek Orthodox seminary on an island off Istanbul could reopen soon, with formulas for its new status under discussion, Bishop Aravissu Kassianos Nikolar told AFP. Located on Heybeliada, one of the Princes' Islands, the Halki seminary opened in the mid-19th century and was the main theological school for the Eastern Orthodox Church until it was closed under a Turkish law in 1971. Despite decades of pressure on Ankara to reopen it -- led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the world's 260 million Orthodox Christians and a graduate of the seminary -- the school has remained closed. But the seminary made headlines in September when US President Donald Trump raised the issue with  Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, raising hopes the deadlock could soon be broken. "At this stage, we are making quite good progress overall. Things are positive at the moment, 100 percent positive," the bishop told AFP in a rare interview just days before Trump was to fly in on his first official visit to attend the July 7-8 NATO summit. The seminary has symbolic signifi…

Erdoğan-Trump talk fuels Christian Orthodox hopes for school reopening ... Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğanhas signalled he will soon meet with the spiritual leader of 300 millionOrthodox Christiansglobally to discuss the possible reopening of a key theological school near Istanbul that has been shut for more than 50 years. The Halki seminary, founded in 1844, plays a central role in theEastern Orthodox Churchas the Ecumenical Patriarchate's main theological school. It trained generations of Orthodox clergy, including the current patriarch Bartholomew. PresidentDonald Trumpbrought up the issue in talks with Erdoğan at the White House on Thursday, saying theGreek Orthodox Churchhad raised the issue when Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul, visited the U.S. president a week earlier. Trump was referring to the seminary, onHeybeliadaisland near Istanbul, which was closed in 1971. "We are ready to do whatever is incumbent upon us regarding the Heybeliada school," Erdoğan told Trump at their meeting. "I will have the opportunity to discuss this matter with (Patriarch) Bartholomewupon my return." Erdoğan's office said it was not yet clear when that meeting might take place. …

In Meeting with Trump, Erdogan Promises to 'Do Our Part' in ... In a meeting at the White House on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke of the reopening of the Halki Theological School, telling U.S. President Donald Trump: “We will do our part. I will discuss the issue when I return with Bartholomew,” that is, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In response, President Trump stated: “The Greek Orthodox Church was here and they would really like to have some help.” Trump was referring to his private Oval Office meeting with His All-Holiness on Monday, September 15, 2025. His All-Holiness later recounted that at that meeting, he briefed President Trump regarding the issue of the Halki Theological School,statingthat “a dialogue began last year with the initiative of President Erdogan,” and adding, “We want to expedite this dialogue so that in September 2026 we can welcome the first students.” Turkish authorities forcibly closed the Theological School of Halki, the main theological educational institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in 1971. Since its closure, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has had to send the yo…

Turkey May Reopen Historic Greek Orthodox Seminary Closed for Over 50 ... Turkey could soon move to reopen the historic Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople seminary that has remained closed for more than five decades, according to statements by the patriarch reported by Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. The possible reopening of the famed Halki Seminary , located on Heybeliada island near Istanbul, would mark a significant development for the Greek Orthodox community and religious freedom in Turkey. Halki Seminary The seminary, officially known as the Theological School of Halki, was shut down in 1971 under Turkish legislation that placed restrictions on private higher education institutions. Since then, its closure has remained a longstanding issue in relations between Turkey, Greece, the United States and the European Union. Both the US and the EU have repeatedly urged Ankara to allow the reopening of the institution, viewing it as an important step toward protecting religious rights and supporting the continued presence of the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. The seminary once served as the principal theological school of the Orthodox Church, training generations of clergy, …

Renovated Greek Orthodox seminary in İstanbul to be inaugurated but not ... National Top Stories Renovated Greek Orthodox seminary in İstanbul to be inaugurated but not reopened, patriarchate says By Turkish Minute May 11, 2026 336 Share Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Pinterest Email Print Copy URL The Halki Seminary Must read Turkish police detain dozens at İstanbul Gay Pride June 28, 2026 Ankara police say more than 4,000 people wanted by authorities caught in NATO summit sweep July 3, 2026 Somalia says Turkish F-16s used in strikes on Al-Shabaab targets July 1, 2026 Turkish prosecutors drop probe into officials accused of negligence before 2015 Ankara bombing July 2, 2026 The renovation of a long-closed Greek Orthodox school on an İstanbul island will be finished in September, although it does not yet have a license to reopen, the patriarchate said Sunday. Located on Heybeliada, one of the Princes Islands, the Halki seminary opened in the mid-19th century and was the main theological school for the Eastern Orthodox Church until it was closed under a Turkish law in 1971. Despite decades of pressure on Ankara to reopen it, led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of …

Turkish President Erdogan Meets with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew to ... Share this Entry (ZENIT News – Asia News / Istambul, 06.18.2026).- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met June 16 ( pictured ) to discuss the reopening of the historic Halki seminary, one of Turkey’s Christian heritage sites, ironing out the last details in order to achieve the long-standing goal of reopening the school by next September. The rare face-to-face meeting rekindles hopes in Turkey’s Greek Orthodox community that the centuries-old theological institute, located on an island near Istanbul, will finally see the light. This comes a few weeks before a NATO summit next month, which is also expected to include US President Donald Trump, who has previously called for the seminary’s reopening during his last meeting with his Turkish counterpart. The seminary’s history begins in 1772, when Halki monastery administrators received permission from the Ottoman sultan to open a school; however, the first classes were held only in 1844 due to a fire that broke at the facility in 1821. After the original building was destroyed in the 1894 Istanbul earthquake, it was re…

Turkey will cover Hagia Sophia mosaics during prayers, says ruling ... Newsroom July 14, 2020 14.07.2020 • 15:52 Mosaics in Istanbul’s ancient Hagia Sophia will be covered by curtains or lasers during times of Muslim prayer, the spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AK Party said on Monday, after President Tayyip Erdogan converted the museum into a mosque. The Christian icons would be uncovered and be open to all visitors at other times, and admission would be free of charge, the AKP’s Omer Celik said. It was not immediately clear how the lasers would work. On Friday, a Turkish court ruled that the building’s conversion to a museum in 1934 was unlawful and Erdogan, declaring it a mosque, said the first prayers would be held there within two weeks. The move drew international criticism and concern, including from Greece, the United States and Russia, as well as UNESCO and Pope Francis, who said he was hurt by the decision. Celik told a news conference in Ankara that the biggest disrespect to Hagia Sophia in history was done by the papacy. He said Orthodox Christians and Hagia Sophia had suffered for years during a “Latin invasion” led by the papacy in the 13th century, when Crusaders pilla…

Erdogan to Reopen Halki Theological School - athens-times.com — Turkey plans to reopen the historic Halki Theological School on the island of Heybeliada near Istanbul as a university-level institution — a move that Bloomberg reports is tied to diplomatic pressure from both the United States and the European Union. The decision follows direct appeals from former U.S. President Donald Trump to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including during their meeting at the White House last September, according to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack. The reopening comes as Turkey seeks to reset ties with Washington and Brussels ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump is expected to meet Erdoğan. Bloomberg describes the move as highly symbolic — aimed at reassuring both the EU and the U.S. on religious freedom and minority rights, while also responding to longstanding requests from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Founded in 1844, the Halki Theological School served for decades as the primary seminary for Orthodox clergy and bishops, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Its operations were suspended in 1971 when Turkey brought all higher religious education und…

Erdoğan meets with Bartholomew regarding the reopening of Halki seminary 06/17/2026, 19.15 TURKEY Send to a friend Erdoğan meets with Bartholomew regarding the reopening of Halki seminary Yesterday, the Turkish leader received the ecumenical patriarch at the presidential complex. One of the issued discussed was finding ways the historic school, closed in 1971, could reopen after the inauguration next September of the newly renovated building complex. Trump, expected at the NATO summit in July, has pushed for Ankara to give the green light. Renewed tensions with Greece over maritime borders lurk in the background. Istanbul (AsiaNews) – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met yesterday ( pictured ) to discuss the reopening of the historic Halki seminary, one of Turkey's Christian heritage sites, ironing out the last details in order to achieve the long-standing goal of reopening the school by next September. The rare face-to-face meeting rekindles hopes in Turkey’s Greek Orthodox community that the centuries-old theological institute, located on an island near Istanbul, will finally see the light. This comes a few weeks before a NATO summit …

Erdogan: Five years ago, we freed Hagia Sophia from chains The head of Turkey stated that by the will of Allah, Hagia Sophia will remain a mosque forever. On July 10, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement on the fifth anniversary of the change in status of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – from a museum to a mosque. This wasreportedby the Turkish resource Haberler. The head of Turkeypublishedthe following message on his social media:"Five years ago today, we broke its chains and reunited Ayasofya with the call to prayer. God willing, it will remain free forever." Alongside the President, the ruling Justice and Development Party also marked the anniversary, stating: "By the will of Allah, the sound of the Quran from the domes of Hagia Sophia and the call to prayer from its minarets will never cease." The Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century as the main cathedral of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque by order of Sultan Mehmed II. In 1934, by the decision of Kemal Ataturk's government, the cathedral was granted museum status, and in 1985 it was included in the UNESCO World Herita…