Professors and students of Marmara University visit the Ecumenical Patriarch

On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, Professors of the Faculty of Theology of Marmara University Nur Arslantaş and Ömer Faruk Araz, together with students of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, where they were received in a personal audience by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The meeting was attended by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, the Director of the First Patriarchal Office Mr. Konstantinos Delikostantis and the Director of the Historical Archive of the Patriarchate Mr. Antonios Hatzopoulos.

During the visit, His All-Holiness referred to the rich work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in interreligious dialogue and international collaborations on issues concerning the environment and ecology.

Afterwards, a full report was given on the history of the Theological School of Halki and the issue of its reopening, with information provided to the Professors and students regarding the progress of the talks, while this topic, which was deemed particularly interesting, was an occasion for fruitful dialogue.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch praised the Deacon of the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi, Father Daniel Zafeiris, who is a Doctoral Candidate at the aforementioned University, saying: “We are proud of Deacon Daniel who is studying at your University, we are extremely grateful to you, we praise him.”

After the visit, His All-Holiness distributed books about the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Turkish language and souvenirs to everyone. Filled with joy and gratitude for such interfaith meetings, everyone took commemorative photos and was given a tour of the Patriarchate premises.

His All-Holiness also offered the University library a Greek edition of the Quran, as a sign of goodwill in interfaith dialogue.