In the course of his Apostolic Visit to the United States, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, attended a breakfast in his honor at the Turkish Embassy to the U.S. Hosting the breakfast was the Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S., Sedat Önal.
Also present was His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America; the Hierarchs and other members of the Patriarchal delegation; and the Spiritual Advisor of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Alexander Karloutsos. Ekaterini Nassika, the Ambassador of Greece to the U.S.; and members of the Turkish diplomatic mission were likewise in attendance.
At a press conference on the previous day, Monday, September 15, His All-Holiness discussed the ongoing negotiations regarding the potential reopening of the Theological School of Halki, which the Turkish government forcibly closed in 1971, making it impossible for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to train new clergy in Turkey. “Since last year,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said, “at the initiative of President Erdogan, a dialogue began between the Patriarchate and the Turkish government on the issue of Halki.”
His All-Holiness added: “President Erdogan assigned the Minister of Education to visit Halki and meet with the relevant officials of the Patriarchate. Thus began a dialogue between the Church and Ankara, which we want to expedite as much as possible, so that in September 2026 we can accept the first students.”
Regarding the Christians in Turkey, His All-Holiness said: “We are very few remaining Christians, not only us Greek Orthodox, but all Christians living in Turkey. It is perhaps around 1% of the population of the country, which population amounts to approximately 84 million. We are a drop in the ocean.” Referring to his private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, he said: “I described to the president the difficulties we have gone through and that, despite all these difficulties, by the grace of God, we exist. We continue our tradition, our history.”
