ABTTF President: “We envy these positive practices with regard to the religious freedom of the Greek Orthodox minority in our motherland. Because in our country Greece, the religious autonomy and religious freedom of our community, which are guaranteed by international treaties, have been systematically violated for years through various laws and unilateral government measures.”
A religious ceremony will be held for the twelfth time on 23 August 2025 in the historical Sümela Monastery in Maçka district of Trabzon province in Türkiye.
The religious ceremony, organized by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Fener on the occasion of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, will be led by the Metropolitan of Kırklareli Andreas. As in previous years, Orthodox Christians from all over the world will travel to Trabzon to attend it.
“Our motherland Türkiye has demonstrated once again its respect and tolerance for the different religions and cultures within its borders by permitting the holding of a religious ceremony also this year in the Sümela Monastery. Although there is no Greek Orthodox community living in the said region, religious ceremonies have been held in the Sümela Monastery since 2010. Also recently, the Panagia Church in Bozcaada had been reopened for worship following the completion of restoration work and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Fener Bartholomew I. had led the first religious ceremony that had been held in the church after many years. We envy these positive practices with regard to the religious freedom of the Greek Orthodox minority in our motherland. Because in our country Greece, the religious autonomy and religious freedom of our community, which are guaranteed by international treaties, have been systematically violated for years through various laws and unilateral government measures. Our country does not recognize the muftis elected by our community and our mufti offices are being transformed into ordinary government agencies by the law passed in 2022, which contradicts our religious autonomy. We call on our country to immediately end its policy aimed at eliminating our community’s religious autonomy and to fully respect its religious freedom”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
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