News and events
 
 
 
 
 

Halki Theological Seminary ( 02.05.2006 )

The Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gyul states that his government’s position is firm regarding the opening of the Orthodox Seminary on the island of Halki in the Sea of Marmara, and claims this is not an obstacle to the entry of Turkey into the European Union.

In Sofia, at an unofficial meeting of the NATO countries’ FMs, the Turkish minister Mr. Abdullah Gyul dismissed the objections by his Greek colleague Ms. Dora Bakoyannis regarding the disrespect of religious freedom on the part of Turkey.

The Turkish FM underlined that the authorities are willing to give their approval for opening of the seminary if it becomes a part of the Istanbul University. The Patriarch of Constantinople, who is in charge of the seminary, had already refused such a proposal.

The theological school on the island of Halki, the only seminary of the Constantinopolitan Church, was closed by the Turkish government in the 1970s and has not been reopened ever since. Up to its closing, it had become renowned as one of the best theological educational institutions.

Informs: Interfaks