Speaking the Truth in Love: Theological and Spiritual Exhortations of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

4. Academic Discourses: Occasional Lectures at Scholarly Institutions

4 Academic Discourses Occasional Lectures at Scholarly Institutions One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Theological School of Halki Heybeliada-Halki, August ,  graduates of a historical school Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the holy and one in essence, the life-giving Trinity, for the joy and excitement of this blessed congregation today, of all the alumni of this sacred school from the west, and the north, the south and the east, in the glorifying Christ unto the ages. With one mouth and one mind, and with hearts throbbing with justified emotion, we have gathered to celebrate the completion of one and a half centuries since the renowned holy Theological School of Halki, our mother school, opened its doors and began its momentous, priceless contribution to the Church and the nation, to humanity and the world. What if during the past twenty-three years the school has ceased operating ‘‘due to misfortunes of our times’’?1 We are nevertheless obliged to 1. The theological school of Halki sits on the hilltop of one of the ‘‘islands of the princes,’’ Heybeliada (in Turkish) or Halki (in Greek). While the institution’s function was diminished both as a secondary school and as a graduate seminary since the late 1950s, it was officially closed by Turkish authorities in the early 1970s. The magnificent nineteenth -century building contains a library of forty thousand books and historical manuscripts , classrooms filled with old wooden desks, as well as spacious reception and 314 Academic Discourses 兩 315 remember the beginnings of its historical undertaking. . . . From the outset, Halki was destined to become a beacon emitting ‘‘the light of Christ’’ to the ends of the earth, wherever all of you, beloved friends and brothers, ‘‘fully decorated with ecclesiastical ranks,’’ from your many positions and bastions, are doing the work of an evangelist. Today we are not here as patriarchs, archpriests, priests and teachers; today, we are the school’s students, graduates who emigrated abroad and now return to the bosom of the mother, to our natural home. This moment of reunion between teachers and students, both living and deceased children of the school, would undoubtedly be much more significant had the school not been forced to close its doors for nearly a quarter of a century. During this time, the Church has taken successive steps that to date, unfortunately, have borne no effect. We are now in the process of preparing a meeting with His Excellency the minister of education of Turkey in order to inform him about the new perspectives and proposals of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We hope that this will facilitate a solution to the problem. an appeal to turkish authorities Permit us to convey to you what we said in this very room a few days ago on the occasion of the opening of the Fifth International Conference of Orthodox Theological Schools: We pray and hope that the honorable and democratic Turkish Government will soon issue the required permit for the reopening of our school. It is inconceivable, on the one hand, to accept the active presence of the First Throne of Orthodoxy in the territory of our country and not provide this Throne with the potential and means to educate its members and renew its blood as a living organism. Such a thing is an inconsistency, incompatible with the notion of religious freedom. . . . We hope therefore that the existing legal and bureaucratic obstacles will soon be overcome and that dormitory rooms. It is the dream and desire of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew that the Patriarchal Theological School will be reopened. He persistently underlines the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and Turkey’s obligation both to recognize the legal status of the Patriarchate as being ecumenical in scope and nature and to respect its right to educate clergy and leaders. 316 兩 Academic Discourses this beautiful building will again become a living beehive, which will produce the sweet honey of the wisdom of God and prepare preachers of peace, universal love and reconciliation.2 Today, then, on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community living here, all of you Halkites have gathered for this anniversary, together with our Modesty. And so we add with emphasis that we are extending an appeal to the honorable government of the Turkish Republic so that it may allow the reopening of this historical theological school, the admission of students, and...