The prospect of reopening the Halki Holy Theological School was at the heart of the meeting today in Ankara by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to the Patriarchate's announcement, the debate focused particularly on the issue of the Holy Theological School of Halki and its prospects for reopening, as part of the dialogue that has already begun between Turkey's Ministry of National Education, the Supreme Board of Education (YÖK) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The meeting took place in a positive climate, with the Ecumenical Patriarch expressing his thanks to the Turkish president for their meeting.
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTERTOGAN, Fener Rum Patriği Bartholomeos'u Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesinde kabul eti. pic.twitter. Com/SU44rGhUVl— T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) June 16, 2026
According to the announcement, both sides had the opportunity to discuss, "in a hearty atmosphere", issues relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek community of Constantinople.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied by the metropolitan Geron Chalcedon Emmanuel, first the high priest of Eok. Thronos and one of the closest collaborators of Mr Bartholomew, as well as Bishop Arabissos Kassianos and abbot of the Holy Trinity Halkis Monastery, where the Theological School is based.