One of the reasons for the problems between Turkey and Greece is the Fener Greek Patriarchate and the Patriarchate's love of ecumenism.
It is desired to create a new Byzantium in Istanbul through the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which stands as a problem that many international actors, especially Greece, are trying to solve.
Especially since the Tanzimat Era, the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which has been serving the ambitions of foreign powers, will not stop its passion to resurrect Byzantium if necessary precautions are not taken or concessions are made.
ISTANBUL'S IMPORTANCE INCREASED WITH THE BIRTH OF ORTHODOXITY
When the calendar leaves showed the year 1054, there was an important separation in the Christian world. While Christians were divided into Catholics and Orthodox as of the said date, the church in Istanbul became the center of Orthodox Christianity.
While the political and philosophical differences of thought in the churches of Rome and Istanbul brought the separation between the churches, Istanbul became the second important center of Christians after Rome. In the process, with the division of the Roman Empire into two and the collapse of Eastern Rome, the issue of ecumenism took its place on the agenda.
WHAT DOES THE PATRICH AND THE PATRICHAN MEAN?
Patriarch is the name given to the chief priests of Greeks and Christian communities. Patriarchate is used for the residence of patriarchs. The patriarchate, which also means the place where the affairs of the patriarchate are managed, is seen by Christians as the continuation of Byzantine power. In other words, according to some Christians, the spirit of Byzantium continues to live with the Patriarchate.
THE BEHAVIORS STARTED WITH THE WEAKNESS OF THE TURKS
After the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul, the Istanbul Fener Greek Patriarchate, which was given some privileges by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, started treason attempts in the process when the state gave signs of weakening.
In this direction, the Patriarchate, which gave great support to the Greek revolts, made propaganda of "Greekism" in Anatolia. Continuing its treacherous activities during the First World War, the Patriarchate gave great support to the occupation forces during the bloodshed in Anatolia. The Fener Greek Patriarchate also took an attitude against the National Struggle. The Patriarchate did not support the liberation movement in Anatolia, but also worked against it.
GREEKS LOSE THEIR PRIVILEGES WITH LAUSANNE
The Istanbul Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which has been in the Fener district of Istanbul since the 1600s and therefore called the Fener Greek Patriarchate, lost its privileges with the establishment of the Turkish Republic and the Treaty of Lausanne. The patriarchs who could be accepted by the sultan in the Ottoman Empire, who could wear Muslim clothes during travels, could ride a horse and carry weapons, were exempted from all customs and fees, became an ordinary officer of the Republic of Turkey with Lausanne.
FENER GREEK PATRIARCHATE IS NOT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY IN ISTANBUL
While the Patriarchs lost their privileges with the Treaty of Lausanne, the Patriarchate was accepted as a Turkish institution in line with the decisions taken. Another decision taken was that the officials of the Patriarchate, which was left in Istanbul as a result of Turkey's unilateral disposition, should become civil servants. It was decided that the Fener Greek Patriarchate, whose political and administrative rights and privileges from 1453 to 1923 were abolished, could only engage in religious and spiritual affairs. Again, according to the Treaty of Lausanne, the Fener Greek Patriarchate is not the representative of the Greek community in Istanbul and cannot engage in activities such as spokesperson and intermediary between the community and the authorities of the Republic of Turkey.
GREEKS WANT AYASOFIA MOSQUE TO BE A CHURCH AGAIN
The Fener Greek Patriarchate carries out activities against the Turkish nation today, just as it did in the years when the Ottoman Empire was on the verge of weakening. There are both demands for the opening of the Heybeliada Seminary and claims to be an ecumenical patriarch.
Serving the ambitions of Greece, the Patriarchate wants to become a Vatican-like structure by obtaining the ecumenical title. With the opening of Heybeliada Seminary, which was closed in 1971, the Fener Greek Patriarchate made plans to accept foreign students here, as well as making the Hagia Sophia Mosque a church again. Again, the Patriarchate's short-term plans include removing the obligation to be a Turkish citizen in the election of the patriarch.
WHAT DOES ECUMENISM MEAN?
The expression ecumenical means the religious leadership of all Orthodox in the world. This concept, which includes the effort to establish a spiritual center in the Balat district of Istanbul, which is not under the control of the Republic of Turkey, contains a great danger in terms of the integrity, safety and independence of our country.
OBJECTIVES TO REVIVE BYZANTINE IN ISTANBUL
It is known that the main purpose of the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which struggled for ecumenism, was to resurrect Byzantium in Istanbul. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çelik, who has signed an important book in this direction, explains the ambitions of the Fener Greek Patriarchate step by step in his book titled "The Historical Course of the Fener Patriarchate's Ecumenical Claim".
Accordingly, the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which plans to obtain ecumenical status in the first stage and open the Heybeliada Seminary, wants to turn Istanbul into Old Constantinople through the properties to be acquired in the second stage.
In the third stage, the Patriarchate, which aims to have Christian countries open religious attaches in Istanbul, then wants to open the Turkish sovereignty over Istanbul's city walls to discussion. The Fener Greek Patriarchate aims at the re-establishment of Byzantium in Istanbul after all these steps.