The US Urge Turkey to Reopen Halki Orthodox Seminary

Pic – Wiki

OCP News Service – 2/8/21

Istanbul-Turkey: The US Department of State has urged Turkey to reopen the Halki Orthodox Seminary on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its closure. The seminary ceased its operation in 1971 since the Turkish government enacted a law banning private higher education institutions to operate in the country.

The Press release by the Department of State reads “Today marks 50 years since the Turkish Constitutional Court ruled that all institutions of higher education must either nationalize or close, resulting in the closure of the Theological School of Halki, a seminary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Halki Seminary had operated for 127 years, and its closing deprived the Ecumenical Patriarchate of a training school for Orthodox clergy in Turkey, it’s home for 1,690 years. Since Halki’s closure, those wishing to become Orthodox clergy have been forced to go abroad for their training. The United States continues to urge the Turkish government to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and allow the reopening of the Halki Seminary. Moreover, we call upon the government of Turkey to allow all religious groups to again train their clergy within the country”.

Founded in 1844 the Theological School of Halki belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was one of the chief schools of theology and Christian education in the East.

Source:
OCP News Service