Today, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs convened a markup of H.Res. 506, which calls upon the Government of Turkey to reopen the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Theological School of Halki without condition or further delay. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), an active member of the Hellenic Caucus, issued the following statement in support of the successful resolution:

"Turkey is the only country not to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch.  Unless Turkey reverses course, the Patriarch will disappear in the foreseeable future. As the spiritual beacon to millions of Orthodox Christians, this is something we cannot accept.

"Turkey is trying to freeze out the church. Without this seminary, the church can’t train new priests, potential new patriarchs. As some have said, it’s as if Rome shut down the College of Cardinals.

"For the sake of 300 million Orthodox Christian’s around the world who look to the Ecumenical Patriarch for spiritual guidance, we cannot let the Turkish government destroy this vital institution."

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