CONSTANTINOPLE – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his hope and wish that the Theological School of Halki, which was closed 49 years ago, “will reopen soon in order for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to regain its Theological arm.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch made the above statement in a speech at the School’s Ceremonial Hall on the Feast Day of Saint Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople and founder of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Halki where the seminary is housed.
Earlier, the Patriarch officiated at the Divine Liturgy that was held at the Monastery’s church.
In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch said that “this is the 49th year of the unjust enforced closure of the School. We are struggling with persistence for the reopening of the Halki Seminary, and our efforts are being strengthened. We are confident that the day when the bell of the Halki Seminary will ring again will come.”
He also said that with the opening of the School the Great Church would be supplied with capable clergy who would take over “the cross and the multifaceted responsibilities of the Mother Church.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch also made a special mention of the works to be undertaken to fundamentally renovate the Halki Theological School.
At the end of his speech he expressed his gratitude to the Board of Trustees of the Monastery and its Abbot, Bishop Kyrillos of Erythres, for the work they are doing along with their associates, and welcomed all those who mounted the Hill of Hope, and especially Archbishop Makarios of Australia with his entourage, in order to participate in the celebration of the Holy Trinity Monastery.
Bishop Kyrillos expressed his gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his appointment as Abbot of the Monastery a few months ago and after the promotion of his predecessor, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
He expressed special thanks to the Board of Trustees and to the Archon Exarchos of the Great Church of Christ, Athanasios Martinos, for his decision to assume the cost of the renovation of the facilities of the Halki Theological School.
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