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The status of the Heybeliada Halki Seminary, which has remained closed for 55 years, has returned to the global agenda following high-level diplomatic meetings in Washington involving Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following the meeting on Sept. 16, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack confirmed that the issue is a priority for both Washington and Ankara, setting a specific timeframe for the potential reopening.
Speaking to SKAI reporter Manolis Kostidis, Ambassador Barrack highlighted the significance of the issue.
"His All Holiness the Patriarch raised the issue of the Heybeliada Halki Seminary when he visited the President in America. This matter is of high importance for both President Trump and President Erdogan," Barrack said.
Regarding the progress, Barrack added, "We are evaluating what we can do to facilitate, accelerate, and support the talks. The goal is to make the possible reopening of the school in time for September 2026."
The topic was also discussed during the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump in Washington on Sept. 25.
When asked about the future of the seminary, President Erdogan signaled a constructive approach, stating, "We are already ready to do whatever falls upon us regarding the Heybeliada Halki Seminary."
In a statement on Nov. 23, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted that a positive atmosphere had emerged regarding the reopening. He emphasized that comprehensive restoration works at the building on Heybeliada (Halki) would be completed in the coming months.
"Our goal is a Seminary reborn as a contemporary educational institution," Bartholomew said. "We dream of this institution contributing once again to Orthodoxy, Istanbul, Türkiye, and the global society."
The Heybeliada Seminary has a significant historical legacy, established in 1844 to train Christian Orthodox clergy. It was closed in 1971 following a Constitutional Court ruling mandating that private higher education institutions be affiliated with state universities.
The Patriarchate rejected this requirement, leading to the cessation of the seminary's activities that same year. Over its operational years, from 1844 to 1971, the seminary was regarded as one of the most important theological institutions in the Orthodox world, producing nearly 1,000 graduates, including 12 patriarchs, with Bartholemew among them.
Calls for the seminary's reopening have also been echoed by international entities, including the United States and the European Union, over the years.
Their continued support highlights the seminary's importance not only in Türkiye but also within the global Orthodox community.
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