to the European Court of Human Rights. Patriarchate officials responded that they did not want to pursue that course of action. However, Patriarch Bartholomew has indicated that they may well have to if there is no progress towards the re-opening of the theological school. In March 2012, a meeting occurred in South Korea between Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey, and President Barack Obama of the United States. In this meeting, Prime Minister Erdoğan indicated to President Obama that Halki Seminary would be reopened as part of Turkey's efforts to protect religious minorities. In January 2013, the Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman published news that the Council of Foundations returned 190 hectares (470 acres) to the Aya Triada Monastery Foundation, which is the owner of Halki Seminary. At the time, this was the largest return of immovable property to a minority within the Turkish nation. Most of the property which was returned included forested land around the seminary. After a meeting with Erdoğan and foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 25 April 2018, Patriarch Bartholomew said that he was "optimistic" after both Erdogan and Cavusoglu "assured him that the School would soon reopen". In February 2019, for the first time, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited Halki during his visit to Turkey and urged Erdoğan to allow the reopening of the school. Tsipras also suggested the next time they should visit the Halki seminary together. Alumni In the history of the theological school there have been 990 graduates in total. The alumni include: Saint Chrysostomos of Smyrna Saint Raphael of Brooklyn Anthim I of Bulgaria Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Constantine VI of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Germanus V of Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Maximus V of Constantinople Patriarch Parthenius III of Alexandria Archbishop Chrysanthus of Athens Archbishop Spyridon of Athens Archbishop Spyridon of America Archbishop Michael of America Archbishop Iakovos of America Archbishop Stylianos of Australia and Exarch of Oceania Cornelius of Petra Christoforos Knitis Makarios II Ioakeim Martianos Meliton, Metropolitan of Chalcedon Metropolitan Nikiforos of Didymoteicho, Orestiada and Soufli Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium Theophylactos Papathanasopoulos Panteleimon Kotokos See also Byzantine philosophy Essence–Energies distinction (Eastern Orthodox theology) Philotheos Bryennios References External links Official website of the Theological School of Halki A history of the seminary Educational institutions established in 1844 Eastern Orthodox seminaries Seminaries and theological colleges in Turkey