Patriarch Bartholomew meets Erdoğan in Ankara to discuss Halki school reopening

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential palace in Ankara, a symbolic encounter for the relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Turkish state. The meeting focused primarily on the issue of the Halki Theological School and the possibility of its reopening.

According to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the discussion was part of an ongoing dialogue involving the Patriarchate, the Turkish Ministry of National Education, and the Higher Education Council. Patriarch Bartholomew and President Erdoğan "had the opportunity to discuss, in a cordial atmosphere," matters concerning the Patriarchate and the Greek minority in Turkey. The meeting proceeded in a positive climate, marked by mutual willingness for dialogue and cooperation.

Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Bishop Cassianos of Arabissos, the abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Halki, where the theological school is located. The discussions signal a potential step forward in addressing long-standing issues related to the Patriarchate's operations and its historical institution.