Erdogan promised Trump to facilitate the opening of a theological school in Halki

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, promised to take the necessary steps to reopen the theological school on the island of Halki. This statement was an important step in the long-standing dialog about the fate of this significant educational institution for the Orthodox world.

According to Orthodox Times, the Turkish leader expressed his readiness for concrete action. “We will do what is required of us,” Erdogan said before the start of bilateral talks. He also emphasized that upon his return to Turkey, he intends to personally discuss the issue with Patriarch Bartholomew.

For his part, President Trump noted the high importance of the topic for the Greek Orthodox community in the United States. “Representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church were here [at the White House], and they would really like to get help,” he said, emphasizing the interest of the American diaspora in the early opening of the seminary.

Recall, we reported earlier that Turkish authorities for the second year in a row did not allow the August 15 Divine Liturgy to be held at the Panagia Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, disrupting the traditional celebration of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ban affected one of the main places of pilgrimage for Pontic Greeks and Orthodox Christians around the world.