Turkey plans to allow the reopening of the Halki Theological School as a University Foundation after more than 50 years. A move, which according to Bloomberg, aims to satisfy American president Donald Trump as its reopening is a permanent request from both the EU and the US.
The issue of reopening the Halki Theological School comes again in view of Donald Trump's expected visit to Ankara for the NATO Summit, next month and in an effort by Turkey to open a new chapter in its relations with both the US and the EU.
The Bloomberg citing sources said the plan for the Halki Theological School, located on an island near Istanbul, provides for the introduction of students through Turkey's national position allocation system, while the Ministry of Education will supervise the curriculum.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew discussed the possible reopening of the School during a meeting held Tuesday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The talks between Bartholomew and Erdogan were held in a "hot atmosphere", according to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The reopening of the Theological School is important for the Patriarchate's ability to train future senior clergy. The Theological School, founded in 1844, was closed by the Turkish government in 1971. Bartholomew, with the support of Greece, the European Union and the US, has long fought for its reopening.
The Ecumenical Patriarch's meeting with Tayyip Erdogan
At a time of particular importance for the relations of the Turkish state with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in Ankara with Turkish Republic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday 16 June 2026.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace and, according to the official announcement of the Patriarchate, it was carried out in a hearty climate, on issues relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the homogeneity of Constantinople and the outstanding issues that have remained open for decades.
President @RTERTOGAN received Orthodox Patriarch of Fener Bartholomew at the Presidential Complex. pic.twitter. com/IovaxOHfqV— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) June 16, 2026
Particular emphasis was placed on the issue of the reopening of the Halki Theological School, an issue with strong symbolism for both Orthodoxy and Turkey's relations with the international community. According to the Patriarchate, during the meeting the course of contacts, which are underway between the Fanari, the Turkish Ministry of Education and the country's High Education Council for the future of the School, was examined.
It is recalled that Halki has remained closed since 1971, when its operation was suspended following a decision by the Turkish Constitutional Court on private higher education institutions. For the Ecumenical Patriarchate, its reopening is a strategic issue, as it is the historical theological training center of its clergy. In recent years, and particularly after the relevant interventions by the United States, the European Union and international church bodies, the issue has come back to the agenda.
The expectations of positive developments have been strengthened in recent months. Patriarch Bartholomew himself, in recent public positions, appeared optimistic that the School could be reopened after the completion of the restoration work, which is underway. At the same time, Turkish media and government circles have implied that Ankara is seriously considering a model of reopening its operation.
Beyond Halki, issues related to the presence and rights of Greek homogeneity in Turkey were discussed at the meeting.
In particular, with regard to the dimension of religious freedoms, the international press faces the issue of Halki as a "mark" of Turkey's attitude towards religious freedoms and non-Muslim communities. The reopening of the School has for decades been a request from the US, European institutions and international organisations.
Indeed, as international observers estimate, the Bartholomew – Erdogan meeting is part of a wider framework for upgrading Turkey's international image on religious freedoms. It is worth adding that yesterday's meeting was not held in a political vacuum. Since 2024 an institutional dialogue has begun between the Turkish state and the Patriarchate on the reopening of the Halki Theological School, while Bartholomew himself has repeatedly stated that he expects the reopening of its operation in 2026.
After all, the reopening of Halki is a permanent request not only of the Ecumenical Patriarchate D.C., European Institutions and Much of the Orthodox world. As early as the autumn of 2025, President Erdogan had left open the possibility of positive developments, and the issue had even been raised in his contacts with US President Donald Trump.