Turkey Resumes Talks to Reopen Halki Orthodox Theological Institute

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has directed officials to resume negotiations concerning the reopening of the Halki Orthodox Christian theological institute located near Istanbul, reviving a longstanding issue.

Bishop Emmanuel, the metropolitan of Chalcedon whose diocese includes Istanbul, stated that the matter has entered "a new phase" following Erdogan's instructions to the Turkish Higher Education Council to continue discussions with the Patriarchate committee.

Although no timeline has been set yet for reopening the institute, Bishop Emmanuel noted that "the stagnant waters have moved," indicating the initiation of institutional efforts on the file after decades of dormancy.

He added that both parties still need to complete restoration work on the institute's complex and reach an agreement on the legal and educational frameworks that will govern the institution's future operations.

This development coincides with preparations for an upcoming visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Ankara next month to attend a NATO summit.

Trump had raised this issue during his talks with Erdogan in Washington last year.

The Halki Institute, established in 1844 and closed by Turkish authorities in 1971, served as the primary theological educational institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It played a key role in training Eastern Orthodox clergy, including the current Patriarch Bartholomew, who resides in Istanbul.

The institute was shut down in 1971 following a ruling by the Turkish Constitutional Court, which mandated that all private higher education institutions be affiliated with state universities. The Patriarchate rejected this condition at the time, leading to the institute's closure and cessation of activities since then.