Halki: The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his hope for the reopening of the Holy Theological School

Under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the commemoration of the Inauguration of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was held on Friday, 13 September 2024, in the Chapel of the Theological School of Halki.

On this day, which also marks the anniversary of the inauguration of the Theological School by Patriarch Germanos IV in 1844, the Matins and the Divine Liturgy were celebrated. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch offered a memorial prayer for the repose of the blessed founders, benefactors, renovators, overseers, deans, professors, tutors, students and alumni of the School.

The service was attended by Their Eminences, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, President of the Board of Trustees of the School, Metropolitan Nektarios of Anthedon, Commissioner of the Holy Sepulcher in Constantinople, Metropolitan Irinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches, and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia, as well as Their Graces, Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, Bishop Smaragdos of Daphnousia, and Bishop Paisios of Xanthoupolis.

Also present were the clergy, His Excellency Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, former students of the School led by Professor Nikolaos Xexakis, President of the Halki Theological Alumni Association of Athens, friends of the School, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, faithful from the Princes’ Islands and numerous groups of pilgrims from Greece and Cyprus.

In his opening address, the Ecumenical Patriarch recalled the founding and history of the School, along with the ongoing renovations, and expressed his hope and anticipation for its reopening. Greetings were then offered by the President of the Board of Trustees, the Abbot His Grace Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, and the President of the Halki Theological Alumni Association.

Presentations were delivered by Archimandrite Dimitrios Stratis, Professor at the Patriarchal Higher Ecclesiastical Academy of Crete, on the topic “Personalities and Ideologies in the Founding of the Halki Theological School”, and by Protopresbyter Kyprianos Kountouris, Director of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, on the topic “The Educational and Historical Context of the Founding of the Halki Theological School”.

A commemorative photo was taken at the entrance of the school, followed by a festive meal blessed by the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Photographs: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate

Source: orthodoxtimes.com