Turkey discusses reopening seminary closed for over 50 years

Turkey is considering reopening a Greek Orthodox seminary that has been closed for more than half a century. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ordered officials to begin negotiations regarding the Halki Seminary, located on Turkey's Heybeliada Island in the Sea of Marmara.

The issue gained prominence following a discussion between Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump is expected to visit Ankara next month for a NATO summit, and the reopening of the seminary was reportedly raised during their conversations. This development signals a potential shift in Turkey's approach to minority religious institutions.

The seminary, established in 1844, was a significant center for theological education for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was shut down by Turkish authorities in 1971 as part of a broader secularization policy. Its closure has been a long-standing point of contention in relations between Turkey and Greece, as well as a concern for the Greek diaspora and international religious freedom advocates.