Those who monitor carefully the situation in Turkey carefully say that it is only a matter of time until Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gives the green light for the reopening of the Halki seminary. It’s not a coincidence. It is the result of many years of efforts by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the current Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros.
Both Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros, who was serving then as Metropolitan of Bursa and Abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Halki from 2011 until the day he was elected Archbishop of America, fought to persuade the Turkish authorities and the international community that the seminary should be reopened. This must be done so that Turkey shows that it respects religious freedom, and the work carried out by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros can be translated into practical action.
It is recalled that Archbishop Elpidophoros was the one who promoted the Halki seminary to the academic and scientific community causing the de facto internationalization of the issue and the reopening of the seminary. In his capacity as Archbishop of America, he has been fighting for Halki seminary and the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and it seems that this struggle is beginning to bear fruit. The contribution of the shipowner and Civil Governor of Mount Athos, Athanasios Martinos is so significant that it gives a great boost to the Halki seminary.
One discordant note
However, the new Abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery of Halki, Bishop Kyrillos of Erythres, has allegedly made a bad impression on the Phanar and some eminent theological circles. They accuse him of not being able to cope at the moment with the actions and initiatives necessary for the achievement of his tasks. On the other hand, they say, he obscures and undoes the whole work of his predecessor, and is even allegedly making comments against him, which, in turn, has caused even greater reactions against him.
On the one hand, the Ecumenical Patriarch is aware of the fight for the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate carried out by the constantly reliable and loyal to the Patriarch, Archbishop Elpidophoros, and, on the other hand, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has put the reopening of the Halki seminary at the top of its agenda for so many years and no petty discords can be afforded before this noble purpose.
* Published in the newspaper “Orthodoxi Alitheia”