Greek FM Giorgos Gerapetritis’ 3-day visit to Istanbul, which concluded Friday served as more than just a formal gesture. With focused meetings and carefully chosen stops, it laid the groundwork for the upcoming 6th High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey, which is expected to take place in Ankara. The exact date is likely to be finalized in mid-May, when Gerapetritis is scheduled to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Antalya.
This marked Gerapetritis’ first official visit to Istanbul in his current role, and although political meetings were not originally on the agenda, the Greek Foreign Ministry made a point to prioritize the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its leader, Patriarch Bartholomew I, with special attention on the long-awaited reopening of the Halki Seminary, as well as broader issues concerning the Greek minority in Turkey.
On Thursday afternoon, Gerapetritis traveled to the island of Halki, where he was welcomed by Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos. Touring the school’s historic premises, he observed firsthand the ongoing renovation works, which are progressing steadily. The current target for completion is early 2026.
“The reopening of the Halki Theological School is not a bilateral issue and cannot be placed within a transactional framework of negotiations with Turkey,” diplomatic sources underscored.
Hope for Reopening in Fall 2026
Optimism surrounding a potential reopening by autumn 2026 remains intact following the visit. Still, it was made clear that the path ahead is complex, involving numerous legal and administrative hurdles—despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s public support for reopening the institution.
Both the Greek government and the Ecumenical Patriarchate reportedly agreed to work in close coordination, although no formal timelines have been released. After his Wednesday meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, Gerapetritis stated that they had discussed matters related to the theological school:
“We hope to see it reopen in the future,” he said, describing the potential reopening as “a powerful symbol of universality, tolerance, and culture.”
Sources in Istanbul pointed out that even if Erdoğan were to issue a directive for the school’s reopening imminently, significant institutional reforms would still be required. These would be both time-consuming and legally complex—underscoring that the issue lies within Turkey’s internal legal order, not within the scope of Greek-Turkish diplomacy.
Greek diplomatic sources echoed this, noting that while the matter is highly intricate, its resolution would send a strong, positive signal to the West about Turkey’s commitment to religious freedom and tolerance.
Athens remains determined not to let Ankara turn the school’s reopening into a bargaining chip in broader negotiations, resisting what they describe as a common Turkish diplomatic tactic.
Upon returning from Rome earlier this week, President Erdoğan struck a measured tone, commenting: “We are working to develop relations with Greece based on cooperation, good neighborliness, friendship, and alliance.”
Wider Engagements Signal Renewed Dialogue
In addition to visiting Halki, Gerapetritis made a stop on Büyükada (Prinkipo) and, on Friday, held meetings with representatives of the Greek minority in Istanbul as well as Turkish media publishers.
Adding to the week’s diplomatic momentum, Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Istanbul office of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry delegation on Wednesday. During that meeting, Ambassador Zeki Levent Gümrükçü pledged to visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the near future—a gesture viewed as another sign of goodwill.
