The Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, held a half-hour meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Christmas Day at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
The discussion, arranged at the last minute, centred on matters affecting Orthodox Christians in the Middle East and the potential reopening of the Halki Seminary.
During their meeting, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s Christmas wishes and voiced concerns over the safety of Christians in Syria. He urged Turkish support for their protection amidst ongoing regional tensions.
A significant focus of the talks was the reopening of the Halki Theological School, which has remained closed since 1971. Erdogan is said to have pledged assistance to accelerate progress on the matter.
The leaders also discussed preparations for the upcoming celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, set to take place in 2025.
Source: Ekathimerini
