Prinkipo Orphanage returning to Ecumenical Patriarchate

ANA-MPA -- The Ecumenical Patriarchate is expected to receive the deed for the building that once housed the eponymous Prinkipo Orphanage on the Marmara Sea isle of Büyükada (Prinkipo) on Monday, following a decision by a first instance court on the island earlier this month.

The development comes after a June 2010 ruling by the European Human Rights Court returning the property to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.... (read more)

Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew has previously stated that the orphanage will be turned into an inter-faith centre for dialogue and peace. (ANA-MPA)

The orphanage was originally built as a hotel by renowned French architect Alexandre Vallaury in the 1890s. It was subsequently bought in 1903 and donated to the Patriarchate by Hélène Zafiropoulo-Zarifi, the wife of Ioannis Zarifi, (ANA-MPA) a banker to then Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid ll, with the stipulation that it be used as an orphanage for ethnic Greek children.

Caption: A file photo dated Dec. 2, 2004 shows the Prinkipo orphanage building, billed as one of the largest wooden structures in Europe.

ANA-MPA / D. PANAGOS