Optimism for reopening of Halki seminary

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarchate officials are optimistic that the Theological School of Halki, shuttered by the Turkish authorities successful 1971, will unfastened sooner alternatively than later.

Bartholomew was capable to enactment the contented to US President Donald Trump who, a fewer days later, brought it up with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan astatine the White House.

“We are acceptable to bash whatever is incumbent upon us regarding the Heybeliada school,” Erdogan responded. Heybeliada is the land connected which the Halki seminary is located.

When helium met with Trump, connected September 15, Bartholomew was accompanied by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, two metropolitan bishops of the Patriarchate and the caput of his office. Also attending were Vice President JD Vance, the manager of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and subject advisor to the president, Michael Kratsios, and Trump’s erstwhile main of staff, aboriginal successful his archetypal term, Reince Priebus, who is of Greek descent connected his mother’s side.

Trump was anxious to assistance but it took an involution by Vance, a devout Catholic, to awesome the value of Bartholomew. He told Trump the Patriarch of Constantinople is for the Orthodox Church what the Pope is for the Catholics, adding that Rome and Constantinople were the two main pillars of Christianity.

Vance’s involution preempted the briefing Bartholomew and his radical had prepared. “We knew President Trump did not cognize astir our Church and the Patriarchate’s relation and history. So, we had prepared an introductory (briefing) to explicate each that,” a high-level subordinate of the Patriarch’s retinue said.

Trump expressed his support and content that his involution with Erdogan would assistance resoluteness the issue.