Minister Kerameos who visited the Patriarchate: Hellenism (in Turkey) is standing thanks to our church and school
Greece
Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:06 GMT
Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameos visited the religious and educational institutions of the Istanbul Non-Muslim (Greek) Minority. "Hellenism is standing here thanks to our churches and schools," said the minister during her visit t...
Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameos visited the religious and educational institutions of the Istanbul Non-Muslim (Greek) Minority. "Hellenism is standing here thanks to our churches and schools," said the minister during her visit to Bartholomeos, Archbishop of the Minority in Istanbul.
-News-Analysis: Bilal Budur, Cengiz Ömer
Translated by Salih Canbaz
According to the statement on the official website of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Minister Niki Kerameos paid a visit to Istanbul on Friday (February 14th). According to the ministry statement, Kerameos also visited Greek schools in Istanbul.
In the statement, it was stated that Minister Kerameos, who visited Zapyon, Zografyon and Fener Greek High School, discussed educational issues with educators here. It was stated that the need for the support of the Greek state was expressed by the educators, and some school principals emphasized that they have not been visited by a responsible minister for years.
After the school visits, Minister Kerameos, who visited the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, was reported to have had the opportunity to discuss their common interests with Patriarch Bartholomeos and members of the Holy Synod.
Standing Hellenism thanks to the church
Addressing Bartholomeos during her visit to the Patriarchate, Minister Kerameos said, "Truly Hellenism is a privileged opportunity to speak for Hellenism and Orthodoxy. As you mentioned before, Hellenism stands here thanks to our churches and schools. I assure you that one of the reasons I visited these schools was to give a clear message. Master, please support these schools. Thank you very much for this opportunity. It is a great honor for us to visit Fener. We also look forward to the excellent cooperation between the ministry and the ecumenical patriarchate".
If there is a similar situation in Western Thrace…
One of the most remarkable points of Kerameos during her visit to the patriarchate, which is a religious institution Istanbul was her statement which pointed out that Hellenism is standing in Istanbul thanks to the church.
Let's just think that a similar case happens in Western Thrace. Turkey's Education Minister Ziya Selcuk comes and visits our muftis and says, "our Turkishness in Western Thrace stands thanks to the muftis". In such case, it is obvious without saying that the Greek media would make the fur fly. It is known that opportunities are pursued, even excuses are made in this sense and scenarios are designed. The archive of the Greek media is full of inflated news.
Turkish identity deniers who know the best of all (!)
In the case of Western Thrace Turks, those who do not refrain from practicing all kinds of modern cruelties and intrigues, especially the denial of ethnic identity, do not refrain from bloated speeches that make them all when it comes to their own minority members. It is seen that the law professors and politicians of the Patriarchate of Greece were arbitrarily distorted by interpreting all international agreements, especially the Lausanne Treaty. What has happened in the last few days draws attention as one of the obvious examples of this. On the one hand, while the President of Greece denied the national identity of the Western Thrace Turks during his visit to the Western Thrace region, on the other hand, Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister Kerameos can shout "Thanks to the church of Hellenism standing in Istanbul".
Those who address the Western Thrace Muslim Turks as "Hellenic Muslims" should know that the Turkish Minority in Greece feels uncomfortable and rejects absolutely the imposition. To understand this fact, it will be enough to think just if Turkey's officials state similarly "These are not Greek bu Turkish Orthodox".
Focus on the subject (the Patriarch), not the object (Kerameos)!
In the statement of the Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister Kerameos, it is understood that her expressions are referring to the Patriarch and she approves them. In other words, it is Patriarch Bartholomeos who made Kerameos use these sentences. It is understood that the Patriarchate was the mentor of this work. Greek politicians' discourse that the Non-Muslim Minority in Istanbul is Hellenic while the Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is not Turkish but Hellenic too, is the invention of the Patriarchate. If that was not the case, then the Patriarch would speak the truth as a sincere religion and righteous man and would have asked for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority what he wanted for his own minority. He would remind to their fellows and those who were subject to the church that the Western Thrace Turks are ethnically Turks, not Hellenic, and that the will of the minority living here, and the right to express and self-identify should be respected
Everything should serve Hellenism according to the Greek Patriarchate
By the Patriarch and the Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister, we learn that the Patriarchate in Turkey utilizes the church and the Orthodoxy to sustain the Hellenism. The interesting thing is that those who present what they do as an innocent effort object to the use of the Muslim Turkish Minority, the Mufti, and Islam for the survival of Turkism in Western Thrace, and they describe it as the fifth branch of activity and treachery. They even risk their life and property security by targeting the Western Thrace Turkish Minority with their political and media outlets. According to their understanding, they will say and do what they want when it comes to their identity and minority, but they will still decide when it comes to Western Thrace Muslim Turks. Why? Because everything in the world is asked to serve Hellenism. At this point, Western Thrace Turks shout out their objections at a high voice and say, “We decide about our identity ourselves. It is not for anyone to give us artificial identities. Freedom of expression and self-determination are among the most fundamental human rights and cannot be imposed by others. No church, politician, president or state can impose identity, especially on Western Thrace Muslim Turks. No human power in the world can ever discourage Western Thrace Turks from their ethnic and religious identities".
Why is the Patriarch selfish? Are rights and justice only for themselves?
Another question that comes up here and awaits an answer is why Patriarch Bartholomeos, who at every opportunity to say that Jesus is in search of right, justice, and peace for all humanity, has forbidden the rights and law that he wants for his own minority from others. Does the Patriarch who claims to be a righteous man does not know that "silence in the face of injustice is a dumb evil" and that "it is a sin not to want what he wants for themselves for others"? Or has he forgotten? Or does it sound like it? So, unfortunately, he commits a great sin and is in great betrayal to the Bible, Jesus, the One Creator, democracy, rights and justice. It is also unthinkable not to be aware of this. Every sane and conscientious person knows that.
If the Patriarch calls for justice not only for themselves but also for all those who suffer injustice, and especially for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Community, where it owes its existence, Turkish-Greek relations gain a different dimension in our region and in the world. there are important developments for peace.
We remind that it is a sin for the Patriarch and those who are subject to it, not to want for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority the same which they want for themselves. We hope that they will come back as soon as possible from this betrayal against their ancestors, who were launched as the inventors of democracy and civilization. As Muslim Turks, we always believe that hopes for peace are not exhausted and we extend our friendly hands to everyone who is sincere.
The official statement of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs regarding the visit of Minister Kerameos to Istanbul is as follows:
-News-Analysis: Bilal Budur, Cengiz Ömer
Translated by Salih Canbaz
According to the statement on the official website of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Minister Niki Kerameos paid a visit to Istanbul on Friday (February 14th). According to the ministry statement, Kerameos also visited Greek schools in Istanbul.
In the statement, it was stated that Minister Kerameos, who visited Zapyon, Zografyon and Fener Greek High School, discussed educational issues with educators here. It was stated that the need for the support of the Greek state was expressed by the educators, and some school principals emphasized that they have not been visited by a responsible minister for years.
After the school visits, Minister Kerameos, who visited the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, was reported to have had the opportunity to discuss their common interests with Patriarch Bartholomeos and members of the Holy Synod.
Standing Hellenism thanks to the church
Addressing Bartholomeos during her visit to the Patriarchate, Minister Kerameos said, "Truly Hellenism is a privileged opportunity to speak for Hellenism and Orthodoxy. As you mentioned before, Hellenism stands here thanks to our churches and schools. I assure you that one of the reasons I visited these schools was to give a clear message. Master, please support these schools. Thank you very much for this opportunity. It is a great honor for us to visit Fener. We also look forward to the excellent cooperation between the ministry and the ecumenical patriarchate".
If there is a similar situation in Western Thrace…
One of the most remarkable points of Kerameos during her visit to the patriarchate, which is a religious institution Istanbul was her statement which pointed out that Hellenism is standing in Istanbul thanks to the church.
Let's just think that a similar case happens in Western Thrace. Turkey's Education Minister Ziya Selcuk comes and visits our muftis and says, "our Turkishness in Western Thrace stands thanks to the muftis". In such case, it is obvious without saying that the Greek media would make the fur fly. It is known that opportunities are pursued, even excuses are made in this sense and scenarios are designed. The archive of the Greek media is full of inflated news.
Turkish identity deniers who know the best of all (!)
In the case of Western Thrace Turks, those who do not refrain from practicing all kinds of modern cruelties and intrigues, especially the denial of ethnic identity, do not refrain from bloated speeches that make them all when it comes to their own minority members. It is seen that the law professors and politicians of the Patriarchate of Greece were arbitrarily distorted by interpreting all international agreements, especially the Lausanne Treaty. What has happened in the last few days draws attention as one of the obvious examples of this. On the one hand, while the President of Greece denied the national identity of the Western Thrace Turks during his visit to the Western Thrace region, on the other hand, Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister Kerameos can shout "Thanks to the church of Hellenism standing in Istanbul".
Those who address the Western Thrace Muslim Turks as "Hellenic Muslims" should know that the Turkish Minority in Greece feels uncomfortable and rejects absolutely the imposition. To understand this fact, it will be enough to think just if Turkey's officials state similarly "These are not Greek bu Turkish Orthodox".
Focus on the subject (the Patriarch), not the object (Kerameos)!
In the statement of the Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister Kerameos, it is understood that her expressions are referring to the Patriarch and she approves them. In other words, it is Patriarch Bartholomeos who made Kerameos use these sentences. It is understood that the Patriarchate was the mentor of this work. Greek politicians' discourse that the Non-Muslim Minority in Istanbul is Hellenic while the Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is not Turkish but Hellenic too, is the invention of the Patriarchate. If that was not the case, then the Patriarch would speak the truth as a sincere religion and righteous man and would have asked for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority what he wanted for his own minority. He would remind to their fellows and those who were subject to the church that the Western Thrace Turks are ethnically Turks, not Hellenic, and that the will of the minority living here, and the right to express and self-identify should be respected
Everything should serve Hellenism according to the Greek Patriarchate
By the Patriarch and the Greek Education and Religious Affairs Minister, we learn that the Patriarchate in Turkey utilizes the church and the Orthodoxy to sustain the Hellenism. The interesting thing is that those who present what they do as an innocent effort object to the use of the Muslim Turkish Minority, the Mufti, and Islam for the survival of Turkism in Western Thrace, and they describe it as the fifth branch of activity and treachery. They even risk their life and property security by targeting the Western Thrace Turkish Minority with their political and media outlets. According to their understanding, they will say and do what they want when it comes to their identity and minority, but they will still decide when it comes to Western Thrace Muslim Turks. Why? Because everything in the world is asked to serve Hellenism. At this point, Western Thrace Turks shout out their objections at a high voice and say, “We decide about our identity ourselves. It is not for anyone to give us artificial identities. Freedom of expression and self-determination are among the most fundamental human rights and cannot be imposed by others. No church, politician, president or state can impose identity, especially on Western Thrace Muslim Turks. No human power in the world can ever discourage Western Thrace Turks from their ethnic and religious identities".
Why is the Patriarch selfish? Are rights and justice only for themselves?
Another question that comes up here and awaits an answer is why Patriarch Bartholomeos, who at every opportunity to say that Jesus is in search of right, justice, and peace for all humanity, has forbidden the rights and law that he wants for his own minority from others. Does the Patriarch who claims to be a righteous man does not know that "silence in the face of injustice is a dumb evil" and that "it is a sin not to want what he wants for themselves for others"? Or has he forgotten? Or does it sound like it? So, unfortunately, he commits a great sin and is in great betrayal to the Bible, Jesus, the One Creator, democracy, rights and justice. It is also unthinkable not to be aware of this. Every sane and conscientious person knows that.
If the Patriarch calls for justice not only for themselves but also for all those who suffer injustice, and especially for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Community, where it owes its existence, Turkish-Greek relations gain a different dimension in our region and in the world. there are important developments for peace.
We remind that it is a sin for the Patriarch and those who are subject to it, not to want for the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority the same which they want for themselves. We hope that they will come back as soon as possible from this betrayal against their ancestors, who were launched as the inventors of democracy and civilization. As Muslim Turks, we always believe that hopes for peace are not exhausted and we extend our friendly hands to everyone who is sincere.
The official statement of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs regarding the visit of Minister Kerameos to Istanbul is as follows:
14-02-20 Επίσκεψη της Υπουργού Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων στην Κωνσταντινούπολη
Το Ζάππειο, το Ζωγράφειο και τη Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή επισκέφθηκε σήμερα η Υπουργός Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, Νίκη Κεραμέως, στο πλαίσιο προγραμματισμένης επίσκεψής της στην Κωνσταντινούπολη.
Η Υπουργός είχε τη δυνατότητα να συζητήσει εκτενώς με τους εκπαιδευτικούς και τους μαθητές ζητήματα που άπτονται της σχολικής ζωής, για προκλήσεις και ευκαιρίες, για όλα όσα απασχολούν την εκπαιδευτική κοινότητα. Μεταξύ άλλων, οι εκπαιδευτικοί αναφέρθηκαν στην ανάγκη στήριξης από πλευράς Ελληνικού κράτους και στις πρωτοβουλίες και τις επιτυχίες των μαθητών σε διεθνείς διαγωνισμούς. Σε κάποια από τα σχολεία, δε, οι Διευθυντές επεσήμαναν ότι είχαν πολλά χρόνια να δεχθούν επίσκεψη αρμόδιου Υπουργού.
Η κυρία Κεραμέως έκανε την ακόλουθη δήλωση:
«Το Υπουργείο Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων εργάζεται αδιαλείπτως υπέρ της εύρυθμης λειτουργίας των σχολείων της Κωνσταντινούπολης και της Ίμβρου, σχολείων με μακρά ιστορία και σημαντικό ρόλο στη διατήρηση της ελληνομάθειας στην περιοχή. Η προσπάθεια των εκπαιδευτικών άοκνη, το αποτέλεσμα ενθαρρυντικό, η δική μας στήριξη δεδομένη. Είμαστε πάντοτε στη διάθεση μαθητών, εκπαιδευτικών, γονέων, για να συζητήσουμε κάθε πρόταση βελτίωσης προς όφελος των μαθητών.»
Στη συνέχεια, η Υπουργός πραγματοποίησε επίσκεψη στην Έδρα του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, όπου έγινε εγκάρδια δεκτή από την Α.Θ.Π. Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη κ.κ. Βαρθολομαίο και τα μέλη της Αγίας και Ιεράς Συνόδου, με τους οποίους είχε την ευκαιρία να συζητήσει θέματα κοινού ενδιαφέροντος.
Η κα Κεραμέως ανέφερε ότι ήταν "μια πραγματικά ξεχωριστή ευκαιρία να μιλήσουμε για τον Ελληνισμό, να μιλήσουμε για την Ορθοδοξία, και όπως αναφερθήκατε και προηγουμένως, ο Ελληνισμός εδώ, η αλήθεια είναι ότι κρατεί εν πολλοίς μέσω της Εκκλησίας, μέσω των σχολείων μας. [....]. Και σας διαβεβαιώ ότι ένας από τους λόγους για τους οποίους επέμενα να επισκεφθώ αυτά τα σχολεία ήταν προκειμένου να περάσω και ένα ξεκάθαρο μήνυμα, Παναγιώτατε, στήριξης των σχολείων αυτών.[....] Να σας ευχαριστήσω πάρα πολύ για την ευκαιρία αυτή. Είναι πολύ μεγάλη τιμή να επισκεπτόμαστε το Φανάρι και προσβλέπουμε σε μία άριστη συνεργασία μεταξύ του Υπουργείου και του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου."
