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PRESS RELEASE
15 January 2002
INTERNATIONAL
CAMPAIGN
TO REOPEN
THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF HALKI
On
January 15, 2002, an international campaign is being initiated, by HEC,
whose objective is the reopening of the Theological School of
Halki.
The
campaign is directed at the leaders of the Turkish Republic, the United
Nations, the European Union, and the United States of America. The
campaign is also aimed at the Parliaments of member nations of the
European Union, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
United States of America, the Parliaments of many nations all over the
world, the representatives of the United Nations, religious leaders of
all faiths, and many other governmental, legislative and
non-governmental advisory bodies and agencies.
Further
information on the scope and the overall goals of this campaign,
translated in fifteen languages, is posted at the following worldwide
web:
http://www.greece.org/themis/halki
At
this web site, individuals and organizations can electronically sign the
petition as well as apply to sponsor the effort along with a number of
Hellenic Organizations of the Diaspora who are sponsors.
The
web site also contains background information related to the issue. It
includes historical treatises and texts, statistics, past press
releases, communications, and media reports pertaining to the
Theological School of Halki.
The
full text of the petition is as follows:
PETITION
FOR THE REOPENING OF THE THEOLOGICAL
SCHOOL IN CONSTANTINOPLE
(ISTANBUL) TURKEY
(1) We the undersigned strongly
protest the continuing illegal closure of the Orthodox Theological
School
of Halki by the authorities of the Republic
of Turkey since 1971.
.
(2) We seek the immediate reopening of the Theological
School
of
Halki, which is the
lifeline of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Great
Church of Christ. The Patriarchate is an invaluable part of world
culture and the Orthodox Christian religion. It is unique to civilization
since it is the most ancient office that has continued to
function without interruption since the establishment of Constantinople
as the center of Orthodox Christianity 1,672 years
ago.
(3) The Theological
School
of
Halki was created as the primary place of learning and
education for the Orthodox priesthood of all denominations. Its closure
constitutes a breach of Article 40 of the Lausanne
Treaty and Article 24 of the Turkish Constitution which both guarantee
religious freedom and education. Their provisions are also embodied in
Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights and therefore the
closure of the Halki Seminary can only be viewed as an illegal abuse of
human rights and a violation of democracy and international law.
(4) We call on all people of good will, who are interested in the ideals
of freedom, democracy and human rights to support the continuation of
Orthodox Christianity in Turkey and the rest of the world by supporting
the reopening of the Theological School of Halki so that it can train
the future priesthood which will allow the Ecumenical Patriarchate to
continue functioning.
For those individuals who have no access to the Internet, a written
version of the petition will be available for signature.
The
HEC Executive Council
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