Meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarch with the President of the Turkish Republic in Ankara

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at his request, met on Thursday, 26 December 2024, with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.

The Patriarch raised the issue of the situation of Christians in Syria and asked the President to exert all his influence there to protect the lives and safety of Christians and all minorities in Syria, referring also to the close historical ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch.

His All-Holiness further thanked Mr. Erdoğan for the mandate he gave for the reopening of the Theological School of Halki and asked him to expedite the relevant procedures. The President promised his full assistance.

The issue of the planned celebrations next year for the 1700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325-2025) and the arrival of His Holiness Pope Francis to Turkey to participate in them was also discussed.

The Patriarch was accompanied to Ankara by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, and Mr. Panteleimon Vigas, Archon Grand Hartofylax and an active community figure in the community.

Photographs: Press Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey