Directions to Orthodoxy - EU chief visits Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (L) poses with Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, during his visit to the Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, April 11, 2008. This post has been viewed 308 times.

References:
· Patriarch warns Turks against pope 'incidents'
· The unity and charity of Christ can only be beneficial, says Bartholomew
· Turkey Strikes a Blow against the Patriarch of Constantinople
· Washington says it will stand by Bartholomew and Halki seminary
· The Supreme Court in Strasburg allows Patriarchs’ appeal for Buyukada orphanage
· Istanbul: Nationalist organization suspected of political and religious attacks unveiled
· Greek PM meets Ecumencial Patriarch in Turkey
· Pope, Ecumenical Patriarch join in prayer
· Orthodox and Catholics together to respond to the world’s challenges, says Bartholomew I
· Catechetical Address of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Commencement of Holy and Great Lent

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EU chief visits Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul
Posted on Sun Apr 13 2008

Associated Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- The head of the European Union met with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians on Friday in Istanbul, where they were expected to discuss Turkish resistance to reopening a Greek Orthodox seminary.

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, is on the second day of a three-day visit to Turkey, which is seeking EU membership. On Thursday, Barroso welcomed a Turkish decision to return property, such as school buildings, churches and orphanages, seized from Jewish and Christian foundations decades ago.

Turkey had seized the properties in 1974, around the same time it invaded Cyprus after a failed coup by supporters of uniting the island with Greece.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is based in Istanbul. Turkey does not recognize his international role as spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. It rejects his use of the title "ecumenical,'' or universal, arguing instead that the patriarch is merely the spiritual leader of Istanbul's dwindling Orthodox community.

Barroso and Bartholomew were expected to discuss Turkey's unwillingness to reopen a seminary that was shut down more than two decades ago, despite pressure from the EU and the U.S. No announcement was made after the meeting.

The Halki Theological School on Heybeliada Island near Istanbul was closed to new students in 1971 under a law that put religious and military training under state control in the predominantly Muslim country. The school closed its doors in 1985, when the last five students graduated.

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