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Copyright Hacettepe University, Ataturk Institute for Modern Turkish History Spring 2013

Abstract

The Holy Theological School of Halki, established on October 1, 1844, in order to promote unity among the Orthodox population on theological issues, regulations and practices of the creed had been constructed as a facility of the Greek Patriarchate of the Phanar and served for training and instructing clergy to the affiliated metropolitans and churches. The restrictive clause amended by the Supreme Court on 1971 stating all private universities to be "monitored and controlled by the State" was disavowed by the Patriarchate and it preferred to close down the Department of Theology. As of 1971-1972 academic year, it began to operate as Private High School of Halki for Boys. The state, characteristically as a regulative institution, devised to monitor and control the educational activities. As the clause amended the state control over schools was not accepted by the Patriarchate, the Holy Theological School of Halki has not been resumed hitherto. Patriarchate, exclusively for the Theological School, demands a sui generis privilege through performing self-determination of the intramural activities and enrolling international students, instructors and scholars to the Theological School. Such demands complying with the ecumenical allegations of the Patriarchate, has an contradicting nature to the essence of Lausanne Treaty and other international conventions as well as Turkish codes of law. On issues concerning the Theological School of Halki, Turkey has been acting within the framework of secularism, equality and the principle of "reciprocity" as stated in Lausanne Treaty and Turkish Republic Codes of Law. The issue of re-opening Theological School as an international case rather than a domestic one, with the initiative of the Patriarchate resulted as multi-dimensional pressure on Turkey, and instigated an international debate generating a matter well beyond the domestic affair of the state. For its particulars, on the brink of accession to the European Union, any attempt to re-open the Theological School could set an example leading to resume other religious schools, will provoke many issues within Turkey and most likely be difficult for the secular statehood to tackle with. Therefore, historical facts should not be neglected while looking for possible solutions. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Details

Title
Heybeliada Ruhban Okulu Yeniden Açilabilir mi?
Author
Yalçin, Emruhan
Pages
105-134,221
Publication year
2013
Publication date
Spring 2013
Publisher
Hacettepe University, Ataturk Institute for Modern Turkish History
ISSN
13051458
e-ISSN
21471592
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
Turkish
ProQuest document ID
1415736070
Copyright
Copyright Hacettepe University, Ataturk Institute for Modern Turkish History Spring 2013