Halki: reopening of the Faculty of Theology in September after 55 years – Its timeless value for Orthodoxy (video)
On a lush green hill of Halki, one of the Princes of Constantinople, stands one of the most iconic buildings of …
News Room
10 May 2026
On a lush hill in Halki, one of the Princes of Istanbul, stands one of the most iconic buildings of Orthodoxy.
The Theological School of Halki has for decades been the most important breeding ground for theologians and senior clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, associating its name with theological education, spiritual culture and the preservation of the Orthodox tradition.
Although its operation ceased in 1971, its historical significance remains immense, and its possible reopening continues to generate international interest.
One of the most enduring issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Turkey’s relations with the West is dynamically returning to the forefront.
According to a report in the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, the Halki School of Theology may reopen its doors next September, more than 50 years after its closure.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has publicly referred to the work underway at the school’s historic complex, leaving a clear message that the project is entering its final stretch.
“In the coming months, the radical renovation of the school complex will be completed, the inauguration of which will be celebrated, God willing, next September.”
The statement was made in Athens on May 7 and made public through the Patriarchate, and shortly afterwards came a report from Bloomberg, which reopened the debate surrounding the school’s operation.
The Turkish government has refrained from officially commenting on the information circulating in recent hours. Nevertheless, the issue is considered particularly sensitive for Ankara, as for years the US and the European Union have been calling for the reopening of the school as a sign of respect for religious freedoms.
The issue was reportedly raised during US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Turkish President Rep. Tayyip Erdoganat the White House last September. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak later said the school could reopen in 2026, reopening the cycle of talks.
How the Theological School of Halki was founded
The school was founded in 1844 by Patriarch Germanos IV, at a time when the Ecumenical Patriarchate was seeking to systematically organize the education of the Orthodox clergy.
The choice of Halki was not accidental. The island was considered ideal for spiritual contemplation and quiet academic life, far from the tension of Constantinople. The school was built on the Hill of Hope, next to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, acquiring from the very first moment a special symbolism for Orthodoxy.
Initially it functioned as a higher theological academy, aiming to train young clergy, theologians and future leaders of the Church. The curriculum included theology, philosophy, church history, languages and humanities.
The devastating earthquake of 1894 and the rebirth of the school
The great earthquake that struck Istanbul on 28 June 1894 caused enormous damage and did not leave the Halki School of Theology unaffected. Most of the facilities collapsed, with the sole exception of the monastery’s church, which remained standing. After the natural disaster, the school’s operation was forced to cease, and the complex remained deteriorated and abandoned for years.
The revival of the school came about thanks to a significant contribution from the great benefactor Paul Skylitsis Stefanovic, who financed the complete reconstruction of the premises. The design of the new building was undertaken by the architect Pericles Fotiadis, creating an imposing structure that combined the neoclassical style with Byzantine elements and influences of contemporary architecture of the time.
The restoration and reconstruction work took about 17 months. The new building complex was designed in the shape of a P, a symbolic reference to the original letter of the name of the great benefactor Paul. The building has a ground floor and two storeys and has been preserved almost unchanged to this day.
The main entrance is located on the west side and is distinguished by its portico with columns. The interior is dominated by an impressive staircase leading to the upper floor, while under the staircase is a passageway connecting the school with the temple and the inner courtyard.
The ground floor housed the classrooms and the student library, while on the opposite side were the students’ dormitories and dining rooms. On the first floor were the ceremonial hall, the professors’ rooms and the patriarchal apartments.
The entire complex was surrounded by particularly well-kept gardens, which were tended by the Metropolitan of the Prigiponnese Dorotheos. Behind the sanctuary of the church a special burial place was created for Patriarchs, Metropolitans and professors of the school.
The official inauguration of the new building took place on 6 October 1896 and from then on the school continued its regular operation. In the 1950s further internal interventions and modernisation were made to ensure that the complex met new educational needs.
The Historical Library of the School of Theology
The library of the Theological School of Halki is considered one of the most important libraries of Orthodoxy and is among the most valuable collections of antiquarian books and rare manuscripts in the world.
Its roots go back to Byzantine times, as many of its manuscripts are associated with figures such as Theodore Stoudides, Patriarch Photis and Aikaterina Komneni.
The patriarch Mitrofan III is considered the founder of the library, who donated some 300 valuable manuscripts before the school was even established. Many of them are still kept in the Manuscript Room of the Patriarchal Library.
Over the years, the collection has been enriched through donations, purchases and the personal libraries of important ecclesiastical personalities. A great supporter of the library has been the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as the library is considered the second most important patriarchal library after that of the Phanarion.
After the foundation of the school, Patriarch German IV financed the construction of a separate two-storey building for the library. This building was used until the devastating earthquake of 1894.
Later, the books were moved to different areas of the school, and in 1927 they were housed in the basement of the north wing, where they remain today.
The library also houses personal collections of important Church personalities, such as the Patriarch Maximus V, the Archbishop of Thyatira German Strinopoulou and other hierarchs and theologians.
At the same time, the Student Library, founded in 1923 by the students of the seminary themselves, operated under the supervision of the Scholarch.
Its enduring value for Orthodoxy
For more than a century, the Theological School of Halki has been the most important theological centre of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The school did not only function as an educational institution. It was at the same time a place of spiritual dialogue, theological research and the cultivation of the Orthodox tradition. Important ecclesiastical personalities were formed there who influenced not only religious life but also the relationship between Orthodoxy and the modern world.
At the same time, its existence was a symbol of the presence of Hellenism and the Patriarchate in Constantinople.
The Theological School of Halki has special historical and symbolic significance for Orthodoxy. Generations of clergy and theologians have passed through its chairs, among them the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos himself.
For the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the opening of the school is not only about training new theologians. It is directly linked to the historical continuity of Orthodoxy in Constantinople and to the recognition of its spiritual role.
The school was closed in 1971, when Turkey passed a law bringing religious and military education under state control. It remained formally active for a few more years and effectively ceased to function in 1985, when its last five students graduated.
