After more than half a century of silence, the Halki Seminary is expected to reopen its doors in the 2026–2027 academic year. The news was reported to parapolitika.gr on Saturday by a high-ranking ecclesiastical figure from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a person of absolute trust to Patriarch Bartholomew, who attended Thursday’s meeting at the Phanar with US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack.
Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon stated exclusively to parapolitika.gr that there is “good will from the Turkish government and the President himself” for the reopening of the historic seminary. As he noted, the goal is “to complete all procedures as soon as possible,” with His All-Holiness hoping the school will operate again from 2026–2027 “in the form we desire.”
The role of the American ambassador in Halki Seminary’s reopening
American Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack appears to have played a catalytic role in this development. As Metropolitan Emmanuel noted, the ambassador maintains a close relationship with President Trump and has taken on a critical role in matters concerning Syria. His intervention, as emphasized, was decisive, at a time when the Patriarchate states it relies on the help of all partners. The meeting at the Phanar also discussed the protection of Syrian Christians—an issue that Patriarch Bartholomew has, as Elder Emmanuel noted, repeatedly raised with President Erdoğan “and his support is guaranteed.”
Tom Barrack also publicly confirmed the intention to reopen the Seminary from September 2026. It should be recalled that the issue was discussed during the Trump-Bartholomew meeting at the White House last September. After that meeting, Turkish President Erdoğan had committed that Turkey would contribute positively to the effort. Ecclesiastical circles at the Phanar estimate that the current situation is particularly favorable, with the presence of Pope Leo XIV and strong American intervention creating a positive climate for progress.
US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack, in an interview with Kathimerini, stated that “when the Ecumenical Patriarch visited America and the President in the Oval Office, he raised the issue, which is of paramount importance to both President Trump and President Erdoğan. We wanted to monitor progress and see if there’s anything we can do to facilitate, accelerate, support the discussions, aiming to lead to a possible reopening of the school in September 2026.” His statements caused reactions in Turkey. However, as diplomatic sources point out, Ankara, under geopolitical pressure, appears to be seeking a more pro-Western image, recognizing that tensions with the US and EU have political and economic costs.
Halki Seminary closed in 1971 after the ban on private higher education, and despite the lifting of restrictions in subsequent years, it never reopened. Turkey had ignored international interventions for its opening for decades.
Yesterday, the US ambassador met again with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar, in the presence of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Metropolitans Savas of Pittsburgh and Constantine of Denver, and Bishops Athenagoras of Nazianzos and Nektarios of Diokleia. Barrack reiterated President Trump’s firm commitment and emphasized that the White House closely monitors developments, within the legal framework set by the Turkish side.
The Patriarch underscored the Seminary’s decisive role as an international spiritual center, while Archbishop Elpidophoros—for years abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery—referred to the important role of the diaspora in the US in promoting the request.
Meanwhile, renovation of the Seminary’s main building, thanks to the generous donation of benefactor Athanasios Martinos, is proceeding intensively and is expected to be completed by Easter, reinforcing optimism that Halki will once again experience days of flourishing.
