A 'Flag' was unfurled in Athens!..

While those governing the country label every form of criticism directed at the government as a "5th Column" activity, they are quite understanding toward those who undermine the country from within and below. Like the US colonial governor Tom Barrack, Trump, and the "Ecumenical Patriarch" Bartholomew, who is among the many enemies of Turkey...

As it happens, five days ago, the government-aligned newspaper Sabah brought to the agenda the assimilation policies directed at our kin in Western Thrace, citing Dr. Pervin Hayrullah, a Human Rights Expert from the Association of University Graduates, who is frequently targeted by the Greek press. Dr. Hayrullah explained that while the word "Turk" was used to a certain extent until the 1990s, the ethnic identity was later divided into Turk-Pomak-Gypsy, and last summer, it was claimed that "the Muslim minority consists of Alevis and Sunnis." Emphasizing that 104 minority schools have been closed in the last 15 years, their right to elect their own muftis has been taken away, Greek-language sermons have partially begun in mosques, and even the crescent and star on minarets are not tolerated, Dr. Hayrullah said, "We have no separatist goal. We are only striving to protect our integrity with our religion, our language, and our identity. We always feel Turkey's support. Our ability to breathe in Western Thrace is equivalent to the existence of Turkey."

While this is the situation in Western Thrace, let us look at the recent actions of Patriarch Bartholomew, the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, whose activities are permitted under the Treaty of Lausanne solely to deal with the religious affairs of our citizens of Greek descent, who number fewer than 2,000 in our country.

Couldn't Permission Have Been Denied?

It was announced months ago that Bartholomew was invited to Greece by Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis to deliver a speech at the General Assembly after a 27-year hiatus.

Although Erdoğan boasted in 2017, "If the Patriarch wanted to go abroad, according to Lausanne, he could have gone with the permission of the Fatih District Governorship. But we even put that aside and said, 'The Patriarchate office is different,' and paved the way for him,";

In these heated days when Greece is joining hands with both Israel and France to increase its hostility toward Turkey, and furthermore, while watching Israel's attack in the open seas off Crete on the Sumud Flotilla, which set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade, one would have expected that at least Bartholomew's visit would not be permitted, right?

Not a chance!..

That visit, which will last until May 8, began three days ago. Welcomed at the airport by Greek Parliament Speaker Kaklamanis, Bartholomew was first hosted at the Athens Municipality. Mayor Haris Doukas awarded him an honorary medal for "the protection of environmental heritage."

What we want to draw attention to here is that the so-called flag, which the Patriarchate previously used in the form of a pennant, was placed among the flags of the Greek Church, the Athens Municipality, Greece, and the EU, and was of the same size. Let us not be surprised if they start waving it at the gate of the Patriarchate at this rate!..

"New Rome-Constantinople Patriarch" in Parliament

Let us move on to his program at the special session held in his honor at the Greek Parliament.

In the Parliament's own announcement, the title "Archbishop of New Rome-Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch" was used for Bartholomew, and he was introduced to the Parliament as such before delivering his speech. It was emphasized that the "Ecumenical Patriarch's" historic speech was of great importance during a difficult period due to the crisis in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In his speech, Bartholomew touched upon interfaith dialogue, human rights, democracy, and peace, while stating that religions cause wars today. He also reported that the "Ecumenical Patriarchate" works tirelessly for the protection of the ancestral heritage in Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace," and offered his thanks to the Greek Parliament for its "assurance of unwavering support for the initiatives and actions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate."

Greek Parliament Speaker Kaklamanis, meanwhile, underlined the "institutional importance" of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the "guarantor of Orthodox unity," saying, "We owe our existence, our cohesion, and our continuity to it."

When Bartholomew went to the Greek Parliament, he was welcomed by President Konstantin Tassoulas and Parliament Speaker Kaklamanis. At the end of the special session, he was awarded the gold medal, the highest honor of the Greek Parliament. Today in Athens, an event titled "Continuity and Universality: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Modern World" will be held in honor of Bartholomew, where both the Parliament Speaker and Bartholomew will speak.

In short; according to Lausanne, the Patriarchate is a Turkish institution, and its head is a Turkish citizen; however, it has once again been recklessly shown which country or countries it has become an extension of within us. That is, for those who can see it!..

Vatican House Opening in İznik

There is another development.

It will be remembered; Vatican Head of State Pope Leo XIV came to İznik at the end of last November at the invitation of Bartholomew for the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, where they held a joint mass. Afterward, they met at the Patriarchate in Istanbul and issued a joint declaration, and the Pope used the title "Ecumenical" for the Patriarchate. Bartholomew said, "Every visit of the Bishop of Rome to the center of the Archdiocese of Constantinople–New Rome is an important event in itself."

This picture was nothing but a violation of Lausanne. In addition to many segments, even the leaders of the People's Alliance partners, MHP and BBP, reacted as follows:

Bahçeli: "Our issue is not the Pope's visit or his diplomatic initiatives. Our issue is the activities to revive the memory of the Council and its dark memories."

Destici: "We believe that the İznik visit carries a 'historical,' 'religious,' 'ideological,' and naturally 'political' meaning. To ignore this and only present this visit program as a 'touristic pleasantry' or an 'innocent commemoration event' is either ignorance of history or pretending not to know! İznik has never been a neutral place, and it never will be... This visit may not be a show of force; but it is definitely a 'reckoning.' Both the Christian world's own internal reckoning and its reckoning with our ancient history... There is no need to panic as a State and Nation, but there is no point in sleeping on the job either! We know that history is also written with symbols. And today, another page is being turned in İznik."

The Directorate of Communications, on the other hand, described the reactions as "disinformation," stating: "Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey is neither a threat to our country's sovereignty nor an initiative that calls into question Turkey's historical achievements. On the contrary, the visit is a diplomatic contact shaped around peace, cultural heritage, and humanitarian values."

What happened in İznik 6 months after that visit?

It turned out that the Vatican had purchased a house right next to the historic ancient Roman theater. A Latin sign was hung at the entrance of the house, which is undergoing restoration, stating that it was established as a guesthouse for pilgrims under the instruction of the late previous Pope.

Again, while the restoration was ongoing, it emerged that the Bishop of the Latin Catholic Community of Istanbul and Apostolic Vicar Massimiliano Palinuro visited the AKP Mayor of İznik, Kağan Mehmet Usta, with a delegation.

The Skill Is Not Hanging an Abdülhamid Portrait

To summarize;

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is neck-deep in politics; it is establishing Orthodox unity within the scope of interfaith dialogue with the Vatican... It is organizing churches in the Balkans and the Caucasus on behalf of the US-Greece... Next is the Georgian church, and we are on the verge of falling out with Russia!..

Let us underline it again; the Patriarchate is affiliated with the Fatih District Governorship, that is, the Ministry of Interior.

The new Minister of Interior, Mustafa Çiftçi, is someone who hangs a portrait of Sultan Abdülhamid II in his office. He did not stop at hanging it; he compared Erdoğan to Abdülhamid, saying, "Whatever Abdülhamid Han was in the past, our president is the same today... A leader who comes once in 100 years... We need to keep him at our head as strongly as possible as much as we can." He also emphasized that "Abdülhamid Han made great contributions to our ancient past with the features he possessed, the services he performed, and the balance policy he implemented," and that "110 years ago, he sent a Caliph to serve Islam to a place that can be reached in two days even by plane today."

I wonder if Minister Çiftçi also knows what kind of policy Sultan Abdülhamid followed regarding churches?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 7, 2026