Greek Minister Pierakakis receives award from Bartholomew: Message of support for the Greek Minority in Istanbul
Greek Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Kyriakos Pierakakis, was honored with the Order of St. Andrew by Patriarch Bartholomew during his official visit to Istanbul.
Pierakakis described the award as "the highest honor", emphasizing that it reflects the Greek government's commitment to permanently resolving the staffing issues of Greek Orthodox clergy abroad.
Meeting with Greek Minority Representatives
Accompanied by George Kalantzis, Secretary General for Religious Affairs at the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Minister Pierakakis also met with representatives of Greek minority schools in Istanbul. The discussions focused on educational challenges and the solutions provided by the Greek government.
"The Greek Government will fully support the Patriarchate and the Greek Community"
Pierakakis shared his gratitude on social media, reaffirming Greece’s support for the Patriarchate and the Greek minority:
“Being awarded the Order of St. Andrew byPatriarch Bartholomew is the greatest honor for me. This recognition symbolizes the Greek government's determination to permanently resolve the staffing issues of Greek Orthodox clergy abroad.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His All-Holiness and, on behalf of the Greek government, pledge our unwavering support forHellenism and the historic Patriarchates.
Together with Secretary General George Kalantzis, we met with the Patriarch in Istanbul to discuss the details of the new clergy positions approved by the government on January 31, 2025.
Additionally, we held meetings with the educational coordinator and principals of Greek minority schools in Istanbul to address their concerns and present our proposed solutions.”
Support for the Greek Minority in Istanbul, but Neglect for the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace
Pierakakis' supportive stance toward the Greek-speaking Orthodox Christian minority in Istanbul starkly contrasts with the Greek government’s restrictive policies toward the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.
While the Greek government takes proactive steps to address the concerns of the Greek Orthodox minority in Türkiye, it continues to ignore the rights and demands of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, which was granted the same minority rights under international treaties.
🔹 Kalantzis proposes solutions for Greek minority schools in Istanbul while remaining silent about the closure of Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace.
🔹 The Greek government resolves the clergy staffing issues for the Greek Orthodox community, but does not recognize the democratically elected muftis of the Turkish minority, instead appointing state-controlled religious leaders.
🔹 Special status and privileges are granted to the Greek minority in Türkiye, while similar rights are denied to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.
According to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, this double standard is a clear example of Greece’s discriminatory approach toward minority rights.
While Türkiye is accused of “interfering in Greece’s internal affairs” when advocating for the rights of the Turkish minority, why does Greece's own intervention for its minority abroad not provoke a similar reaction?
For the Turkish community in Western Thrace, such inconsistent policies reflect the deep-seated bias within Greek authorities, pushing them further away from justice and fairness. The recent visit and statements by Minister Pierakakis and Secretary General Kalantzis have once again exposed the Greek government’s blatant double standards when it comes to minority rights.
