February 8, 2010

HEYBELIADA ISLAND, Turkey – They wait faithfully and hope.

Two Orthodox leaders, Metropolitan Apostolos, abbot, and Father Dorotheos, maintain the Holy Monastery and Theological School at Halki, waiting for the day when students will be allowed to resume seminary studies here.

The two met with an official delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 7. The delegation, led by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, traveled here to see the seminary and learn why it has remained closed by the government of Turkey since 1971.

The seminary is operated by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul. The Halki seminary has educated students since 1844 but was closed 39 years ago when the government ordered 63 private higher education institutions to affiliate with a state institution or close. The seminary's board of trustees declined to affiliate with the University of Istanbul.

The situation has attracted the attention of leaders in the United States, among others, who have tried to convince the Turkish government to reopen the seminary. The U.S. Congress and Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and most recently President Barack Obama all have called for the seminary to be reopened. The European Union (EU) has expressed its concern as Turkey considers EU membership.

Metropolitan Apostolos and Father Dorotheos are the caretakers of the seminary, along with a small gardening and food service staff.

Dorotheos is a retired economics and mathematics professor from Istanbul. Twelve years ago he came here and remained. He told the ELCA delegation that he is hopeful the school will be reopened before its closure exceeds 40 years.

"I am hopeful it will reopen soon, perhaps with the writing of a new constitution," he said. "We hope when the seminary opens that many young people from the United States will come here to learn the science of theology." Through its history, more than 1,000 students have been trained at the seminary, including His All Holiness Bartholomew I, world Orthodox leader.

Dorotheos said his days here include study, worship, maintaining the school's extensive library collection and the school's priceless collection of icons. He meets with groups such as the ELCA delegation, reciting the school's history and its predicament. Along with Metropolitan Apostolos, Dorotheos keeps the school's classrooms and dormitories ready for the day when the students can return.

The school's well-known library contains more than 60,000 volumes, with some works dating back centuries. Researchers and journalists visit the school to use it, he said.

"In my opinion, therein lies the treasure of this institution," Dorotheos said. "This library belongs to all mankind."

In remarks to the caretakers of the seminary, Hanson said that he feels as though he's been in the season of Advent when he visits the school and monastery. He visited the seminary on a previous ecumenical journey in 2003.

"In Advent we are always looking forward in anticipation and hope as you await the reopening of the seminary," he told them. "We hope not only for the reopening, but for unity in Christ and Christ's return in glory."

Metropolitan Apostolos pointed out that the Orthodox and reformers such as Philipp Melanchthon met with each other in Wittenberg as early as 1559. Today, the Orthodox and the ELCA maintain formal theological dialogues in the United States. Globally, the Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox are in formal dialogue.

"We ask for your prayers and for the reopening of the seminary," he told the delegation.

ELCA News Service