Stevie Shears

The Halki seminary was established on Oct 1, 1844 in Halki (Turkish: Heybeliada), the second largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara. It was the main school of theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until its closure by the Turkish authorities in 1971.

History

The seminary was housed on the site of the ruined Monastery of the Holy Trinity, which was founded by Photius I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (858–861 and 878–886). In 1844, Patriarch Germanos IV converted the ruined monastery into a school of theology, which was inaugurated on September 23, 1844. All the buildings except for the chapel were destroyed by an earthquake in June 1894, but were rebuilt by architect Periklis Fotiadis and inaugurated in October 1896. Major renovation took place in the 1950s.

Numerous Eastern Orthodox scholars, theologians, priests, bishops, and patriarchs graduated from Halki, including Patriarch Bartholomew I. Many patriarchs, bishops, and former teachers of the school are buried on the grounds.

The facilities include the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, sports and recreational institutions, dormitories, an infirmary, a hospice, offices, and the school's library with its historic collection of books, journals, and manuscripts. The library contains over 120,000 books.

The students at Halki included not only a large number of native born Greeks, but Eastern Orthodox Christians from around the world, giving the school an international character.

When established in 1844, the school had seven grades, four high school level and three higher level (theological grades). In 1899, the high school division was dissolved and the school functioned as an academy with five grades. In 1923 (establishment of Republic of Turkey), the seven grade system was restored (4 high school + 3 higher level). In 1951, it was changed to 3 high school + 4 higher level.

Enforced closure

In 1971, certain articles of "Private University Law" were found unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Turkey (Supreme Court); subsequently all private institutions of higher education in Turkey either became (part of the) state universities or closed down. The seminary section of the Halki school closed down. The high school section is still open, but has no students now.

In 1998, Halki's board of trustees were ordered to disband until international criticism of Ankara's decision persuaded the Turkish authorities to reverse their order.

Campaign to reopen the seminary

Halki seminary has received international attention in recent years. U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Halki on his visit to Turkey in 1999 and urged Turkish President Süleyman Demirel to allow the reopening of the school. In October 1998, both houses of the United States Congress passed resolutions that supported the reopening of Halki. The European Union has also raised the issue as part of its negotiations over Turkish accession to the EU. However, the school remains closed, and there is strong opposition to reopening it from Turkey's nationalist parties, particularly the secular Republican People's Party.

References

• "The Holy Theological School of Halki". Retrieved 2007-08-14.
• "Heybeliada" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2007-08-14.
• Kılıç Yaşın, Gözde. "Heybeliada Ruhban Okulu" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2007-08-14.
• İpekçioğlu, Kaan (Aug 9, 2003). "Ruhban Okulu'na vize" (in Turkish). Yeni Şafak. Retrieved 2007-08-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Köylü, Hilal (June 24, 2004). "Ruhban Okulu'na formül bulundu" (in Turkish). Radikal. Retrieved 2007-08-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Associated Press (September 20, 2006). "Turkish parliament tries to avoid reopening Orthodox seminary". International Herald Tribune. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Frantz, Douglas (August 7, 2000). "Historic Seminary in Turkey Is Ready but Empty". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• A history of the seminary