Halki Seminary Looks To Reopen in Turkey

The reopening of the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary on Heybeliada Island off Istanbul is being discussed by local residents and politicians. The seminary operated from 1844 until 1971 on the second largest of the Prince’s Islands in the Marmara Sea. Many residents and business owners on the island favor reopening the seminary as a way to bring increased tourism to Heybeliada.

The government is looking at ways to reopen the seminary that would satisfy the requirements of the Greek minority and comply with Turkish law. The seminary was closed after Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled some articles of the law on private education institutions were unconstitutional.

A recent article in Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News quoted a number of islanders as being enthusiastic about the seminary and its reopening. Haydar Işık, a real estate agent on Heybeliada, said the seminary could bring vitality and increase the traffic and population on the island. “At least different people will come and live here,” he said.

Heybeliada is one of the Prince’s Islands that lie in the Marmara Sea off of Istanbul. It is a popular tourist destination and is about a 90 minute ferry ride from Istanbul.

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28/07/2009

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