The Phanar Greek Patr›archate During the Second Constitutional Period

The Patriarchate, which was inherited by the Ottomans from Byzantium, was endowed with certain political rights over the Greek subjects during the “nation system” policy of the Empire. With the support of other states and nationalism during the Decline of the Empire and Turkish War of Independence, the Patriarchate was essential for the establishment of Independent Greece along with its Magalia Idea. From the Greek independence to the end of the First World War, the Patriarchate helped, organized and supported every activity to expand Greece and to restore Byzantium. Because of its activities against the state and nation Mustafa Kemal had seen it as a “society of sinister activities and betrayal”. The Patriarchate was to be expelled from the Misak-› Milli borders in the Treaty of Lausanne, but this could not succeed because of pressures from the Christian Bloc. The Patriarchate was allowed to stay inside the Turkish Republic only to fulfill its religious activities for 1500-2000 Orthodox congregation, and today it is a fundamental foundation of the democratic and secular Turkish Republic, which has to support for the stability of the State, like the other Turkish foundation.