Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended and spoke at the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Princes’ Islands Orphanage, addressing both the timeless contribution of the historic institution and the ongoing difficulties in preserving and ensuring the future utilization of the iconic wooden building.
The event took place on Friday afternoon (22/05) at the Princes’ Islands Museum, which hosts an exhibition on the Orphanage’s history, organized by the Islands Foundation with the assistance of historians, researchers, and representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Addressed the history and significance of the Princes’ Islands Orphanage
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a speech in both Greek and Turkish, focusing on the history and significance of the Princes’ Islands Orphanage.
During his address, he emphasized both the historical journey of the Orphanage and the efforts made to preserve the historic building, which faces serious structural and deterioration problems.
As he noted, the Patriarchate has made repeated attempts to secure the financial resources required for preserving the wooden structure, but these have been unsuccessful, as the extremely high restoration cost remains a major obstacle, while the building has already collapsed in many areas.
Who participated in the event
The event included ecclesiastical, municipal, and academic representatives, as well as residents of the Princes’ Islands and Constantinople, with focus on interest in the historical and cultural significance of the Orphanage.
Among those present were Metropolitan Elder of the Princes’ Islands Dimitrios, scientists and citizens, while greetings were delivered by the mayor of the Princes’ Islands, Ali Ercan Akpolat, and Archon Chief Archivist of the Great Church of Christ Panteleimon Vingas, who has worked for many years on the Orphanage issue.
After the event’s completion, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the exhibition spaces and was briefed on the material presented regarding the history of the historic institution.
