Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate Issues Statement on Status of Saint Catherine Monastery of Sinai
    • Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity, speakers say
    • Call for Nominations: 2025 Medal of Saint Theodora Award
    • Save the Date: October 11, 2025 – Frederica Mathewes-Green to Headline OCL’s 38th Annual Conference
    • Metropolitan Elder Dimitrios of the Princes’ Islands Named Honorary Doctor in Athens
    • Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center Annual Benefit Reception on June 16
    • Saint-Sophia-Seminary-Quarterly-No. 2
    • Merger creates new Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Orthodox News»Greek and Turkish musicians give historic concert at Halki

    Greek and Turkish musicians give historic concert at Halki

    0
    By Webmaster on September 24, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories, Uncategorized
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link
    Prominent leaders of Greek Orthodox community have listened the Greek and Turkish musicians performing at the Halki Greek Orthodox Seminary. DAILY NEWS photos, Emrah GÜREL
    Prominent leaders of Greek Orthodox community have listened the Greek and Turkish musicians performing at the Halki Greek Orthodox Seminary. DAILY NEWS photos, Emrah GÜREL

    Source: Hurriyet Daily News

    ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

    Halki Greek Orthodox Seminary becomes the stage for Greek and Turkish musicians amid growing expectations over the school’s opening as part of the much-awaited democratization package

    Vercihan Ziflioğlu (vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr)

    The Halki Greek Orthodox Seminary symbolically opened its doors for a historic concert on Istanbul’s Heybeliada Island on Sept. 22.

    The concert, titled “A Cultural Trip from Greece to Turkey,” in which musicians from Turkey and Greeceperformed for peace and friendship, marked a first for the Halki Seminary, as the school has been closed since 1971.

    Professor Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, Halki Seminary’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa, told the Hürriyet Daily News that he hoped this celebration would prove to be a pre-celebration for the opening of the school.

    “I am sure that the reopening of this school will once again show that Turkey has nothing to fear from education, that culture cannot be a threat, and that prayer is not a hostile act directed against anyone,” said Lambriniadis.

    The Halki Seminary, which was opened in 1844, served as a school of Greek-Orthodox theology until a 1971 Constitutional Court ruling forced all private institutions of higher education to become a part of state universities. Halki’s board of trustees refused to become part of Istanbul University, an offer made by the Turkish state in accordance with the ruling. Consequently, the seminary section of Halki School was closed down. The high school section is still open, but no longer has students.

    Government move awaited 

    Lambriniadis said they trusted the Turkish government to open the seminary, with the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) much-anticipated democratization package – which is expected to include measures related to the status of the Halki Seminary – set to be announced in the coming days.

    “We trust that our government is not against this way of thinking. Our theological school has always been a place for the promotion of culture and education in a multicultural and cosmopolitan city like Istanbul, away from extremisms and hatred of any kind,” said Lambriniadis.

    The democratization package is to be announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sept. 30. The judicial package is expected to include topics related to the Kurdish peace process and the rights of Alevis, among other topics. Erdoğan has said the package will constitute a “new phase” in the 11-year process of his party’s rule, stressing that as a party that has suffered from bans, the AKP stands against discrimination and restrictions on freedom of expression.

    Lambriniadis also said he was very happy that a concert bringing the Turkish and Greeknations together had been organized at the Halki Seminary.

    Along with Lambriniadis, Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, Bulgarian Patriarch Neofitos, the Greek consul general in Istanbul, and the mayor of the Prince Islands Mustafa Farsakoğlu attended the concert.

    While no security problems were encountered during the concert, a small group verbally attacked people who were waiting in the queue for a phaeton to reach the Halki Seminary.

    [subscribe2]

     

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleOf God and Caesar
    Next Article Can We Finally Start Talking About The Global Persecution Of Christians?

    Related Posts

    June 10, 20254 Mins Read

    Ecumenical Patriarchate Issues Statement on Status of Saint Catherine Monastery of Sinai

    June 2, 20252 Mins Read

    Call for Nominations: 2025 Medal of Saint Theodora Award

    June 1, 20251 Min Read

    Save the Date: October 11, 2025 – Frederica Mathewes-Green to Headline OCL’s 38th Annual Conference

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    There are no upcoming events.
    Recent Comments
    • John Fronime on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Nn on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Member on Ex-Clergyman, Sexually Abused at 17 by His Priest, Attempted Suicide
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Luke on Egypt nationalizes ancient monastery’s grounds, fraying ties between Athens and Cairo
    • Webmaster on Egypt nationalizes ancient monastery’s grounds, fraying ties between Athens and Cairo
    • Luke on Egypt nationalizes ancient monastery’s grounds, fraying ties between Athens and Cairo
    • Gary on The Orthodox Pilgrim
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.