Patriarch Bartholomew discusses reopening of Halki Seminary with PACE leadership
Patriarch Bartholomew with a delegation of PACE parliamentarians. Photo: Vima Orthodoxias
Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed Petra Bayr and a delegation of members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Istanbul. The parties discussed the protection of human rights and the reopening of the theological school on the island of Halki, according to the UOJ Greece.
Greek MP Giannis Oikonomou said that participants in the meeting described the reopening of the school as an event of enormous significance for Orthodox Christians worldwide. Patriarch Bartholomew briefed the European representatives on the details of ongoing discussions with the Turkish authorities on the issue. The interlocutors also addressed environmental concerns and the rule of law.
The Turkish authorities shut down the theological school on Halki in 1971. The issue has remained a subject of international diplomatic pressure ever since, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate has spent decades calling for the restoration of theological education there.
As previously reported by the UOJ, a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State met with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar.
Read also
In Nigeria, unknown attackers hacked a Catholic priest to death with machetes
In Nigeria, the body of a priest from the Catholic Church of Saint Mary in Egbe was found on the side of a road with severe machete wounds.
In Zabolottia, hundreds of faithful from persecuted community mark patronal feast
In Zabolottia, about 400 faithful gathered to celebrate the patronal feast of a UOC community that had built a new church following the seizure of its former church.
Orthodox Church parishioners evacuated due to wildfires in USA
In the city of Spokane, Washington state, parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church were evacuated due to wildfires that destroyed more than 600 structures.
Oleksandrivka believers hold procession to site of Virgin Mary’s apparition
The Odesa Eparchy of the UOC held an annual prayer procession to the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent.
Decaying architectural monument church in Poltava region shown online
A blogger showed the semi-ruined condition of the Church of the Nativity of Christ, built in 1801, in the village of Verhuny.
BOC debunks false claims of disrupted service over RF ambassador's presence
The Metropolis described reports that the service had been disrupted as slander, explaining that the Primate's calls for order were prompted by the exceptionally large number of people in attendance.