Political Missionaries!..

As Erdoğan returned to Turkey like a victorious commander following his meeting with Trump, he told the journalists accompanying him, "We are determined to leave a fully independent and prosperous Turkey to the generations after us."

The state of our affairs regarding "prosperity" is well-known; not only our children, but even our unborn grandchildren have been saddled with debt. Therefore, let us discuss this matter of "full independence."

One of the topics at the White House summit was the reopening of the Halki Seminary. As far as we can follow, while there was no concrete development on the horizon, it was Erdoğan himself who brought this to the agenda. He stated:

"Regarding the Halki School, we are already ready to do whatever falls upon us. I will have the opportunity to discuss the matter with Mr. Bartholomew upon my return."

Trump replied, "Very good. They needed help, and I said I would bring this up."

It is crystal clear that an order list had arrived from the US beforehand, and the appointment was granted once an agreement was reached.

However, Okan Müderrisoğlu, the Ankara Representative of the pro-government newspaper Sabah, does not say so. Stating that he had recently met with Patriarch Bartholomew, he claimed Trump turned to Erdoğan and said, "He told me he is very pleased with you, and that they perform their worship freely." Then, by saying, "They have a school," he shared his expectation on this point.

Fortunately, Yahya Bostan, a columnist for another pro-government newspaper, Yeni Şafak, emphasized the crux of the matter by stating, "The issue of the seminary is not a subject of Turkish-American relations. It is a matter of the relationship Turkey has established with its non-Muslim citizens. In one aspect, it touches upon Turkish-Greek relations. While Ankara considers the demands of its citizens, it also wants to see the steps Greece needs to take regarding the Muslim-Turkish minority."

Yes, while the main question that should be asked is, "What does the Seminary have to do with the US or Trump?", such dictates have become so commonplace that, what a pity!..

Let us also note that Archbishop Elpidophoros, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey who was appointed by Bartholomew to the Greek Orthodox Church in the US in 2019 in violation of the Treaty of Lausanne and who has been leading all anti-Turkey activities since the day he left, said 3 years ago while complaining about the non-opening of the Seminary that this was not a "Greek-Turkish problem, but an American-Turkish problem."

THE MAN WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT TURKEY TO TRUMP

First, let us draw attention to an important detail.

Erdoğan is the head of the Republic of Turkey, while Patriarch Bartholomew is the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, a Turkish institution affiliated with the Fatih District Governorship.

But Trump met with Turkish citizen Bartholomew before Erdoğan. Furthermore, it was announced only 6 days ago that Trump had granted an appointment to Erdoğan. It was announced exactly 2 months in advance that Patriarch Bartholomew would go to the US and meet with Trump.

Indeed, Tom Barrack, the colonial governor who visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on August 11, reported that they discussed the September US visit and the reopening of the Seminary with Bartholomew, whom he addressed with the title "Ecumenical."

In short, it has become clearer where and how the "Seminary meal," which Erdoğan brought to the agenda by taking initiative during his meeting with Trump, was cooked, hasn't it?!

Let us also look at Bartholomew's activities during his US visit between September 14-25, including his meeting with Trump.

After his meeting with Trump, he said, "We talked about issues that concern us; the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the small number of Christians remaining in Turkey, the troubles, difficulties, and persecutions they face; but at the same time, we also talked about the fact that despite everything, we survive and continue to fulfill our mission." Regarding the Seminary, he said he "hopes that the ongoing dialogue with the Turkish government will lead to a positive result."

The man is treated almost like a "head of state" not only abroad but also domestically, yet he still speaks of "persecution."

Even the pro-government media was uncomfortable and ran the headline, "There is no persecution, there is value." They corrected it immediately. Specifically, the expression "persecution" was removed only from the statement posted on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Even though what Bartholomew said was recorded on camera and published as such on all other Orthodox sites, what is the point? But the pro-government media was happy again, consoling itself by saying, "Persecution ended in one night"!..

THE PATRIARCHATE IS A NON-STATE GLOBAL ACTOR

What else did Bartholomew do?

He is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, but he attended almost every event with the Greek Ambassador or consul.

In the dinner given in honor of Bartholomew by US Deputy Secretary of State Michael J. Rigas, he told two stories from Orthodox history. One of them was this: "When the envoys reported the extraordinary beauty of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted to Christianity in 988."

When Bartholomew met with some members of Congress, one of the Republican members called on Congress to "recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate and pressure Ankara to allow the opening of the Seminary."

Bartholomew, who moved from Washington to New York, gave a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), known as the US "deep state."

And with the title "Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch"!..

In his speech there; while he did not utter a single word about Israel's massacres, he declared Hamas and Hezbollah "terrorists." He also used these interesting expressions regarding the common points between the CFR and the "Ecumenical Patriarchate":

"We have both proven that we are long-lived: Yours has existed in the New World for more than 100 years - ours in the Old World for 1700 years, perhaps?.. Both of our centers are located in global cities that are cultural crossroads: New York speaks 800 languages and covers 5 boroughs - Istanbul speaks 80 languages and covers two continents. Finally and most importantly; we are both, so to speak, non-state actors with a global, ecumenical perspective."

REPORTED TO THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND GREEK LEADERS

Anything else? He met with Nikos Christodoulides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration who was in New York for the UN Summit, and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

Christodoulides informed Bartholomew about the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and explained his determination regarding a solution. During the meeting, emphasis was also placed on the "ancient ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Cyprus," which is a reference point for "Cypriot Hellenism."

Bartholomew also thanked Mitsotakis for Greece's "firm support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its mission" and provided information about his meetings in the US, especially with Trump.

Finally, he attended an award ceremony held for him and spoke again with the title "Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch"!..

On the day Erdoğan met with Trump, he left the US and flew to Thessaloniki. When he landed at Macedonia Airport, he was welcomed with a military ceremony. Numerous high-level officials, primarily the Commander of the Hellenic Army General Staff and the Commander of the 3rd Army Corps, attended the ceremony and the reception held in his honor there.

Bartholomew has been in Thessaloniki for almost a week. He spoke at various meetings... He met with the Patriarchs of Balkan countries... He made some openings with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas...

Let us share two important notes.

Since the Patriarch is a Turkish citizen and the Patriarchate is a Turkish institution; while presiding over a liturgy in a historic church for the first time, he spoke of "the liberation of Thessaloniki in 1912," that is, its severance from the Ottoman Empire... And while visiting a bunch of schools there, he did not go to a single Turkish school.

DEPORTING "MR. BARTHOLOMEW"?

To sum up; only former AKP deputy Metin Külünk reacted from the government front to Bartholomew meeting with Trump and complaining about Turkey. Külünk, who used the expressions "he is debasing himself" and "he is someone who has surrendered to the plans of Zionism for the fragmentation of this geography" for Bartholomew, called for, "The Patriarch had already overstepped his bounds. He must be deported immediately!"

Erdoğan, on the other hand, presented a blank check to Trump regarding the Seminary and said, "I will have the opportunity to discuss the matter with Mr. Bartholomew upon my return."

Since we have no official left to hold anyone accountable while the Treaty of Lausanne is being shredded and Turkey is being complained about to Trump; when Bartholomew comes from Thessaloniki to "Constantinople," who/whoever should welcome him with a ceremony?!

AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik had accused CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who brought up Erdoğan's meeting with Trump's son, of "engaging in political missionary activity."

But it is clear who is actually doing "political missionary work"!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 3, 2025