Turkey Moves to Reopen Historic Orthodox Seminary

The Turkish president has asked officials to start talks again about bringing back an Orthodox Christian school that closed in 1971. The seminary, located on a small island near Istanbul, was once the main training center for Eastern Orthodox clergy. Its closure has been a point of contention between Turkey and other countries, especially Greece, the United States and the European Union. President Erdogan’s decision follows a conversation with U. S. President Trump, who is expected to visit Ankara soon for a NATO meeting. Trump had highlighted the seminary issue during their talks last year, putting pressure on Turkey to reconsider its stance. The school was founded in 1844 and played a vital role in the Eastern Orthodox Church, producing leaders such as the current Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarchate has long sought to reopen the institution, arguing that it is essential for maintaining religious education in Turkey.Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who oversees the Istanbul area for the church, said that the matter has entered a “new phase” after Erdogan directed the higher education authority to resume discussions with the Patriarchate’s committee. The church sees this as a positive step toward restoring the seminary’s operations. There is still no set date for reopening, and both sides must finish renovating the old building complex. They also need to agree on a legal framework that allows the seminary to function independently while meeting state regulations. The original closure in 1971 followed a Constitutional Court decision that private universities must be part of state institutions, a rule the Patriarchate could not accept. The reopening would signal a shift in Turkey’s approach to religious education and international relations.