According to a municipal council decision, given that the local administration cannot afford to restore the building, the historical school in the northwestern province of Bursa’s Tirilye district which former Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios attended, will be demolished if a buyer can’t be found.
Stone School (Taş Mektep) was also where Metropolitan Chrysostom of Smyrna worked as the principal .
In 1924, after the establishment of Turkey as a Republic it served as a school called Dar-ül Eytam for orphans, who were the children of soldiers that died in the war. The building also served as a boarding school, a primary school and a secondary school later on.
The historic school was emptied in 1989 and ownership transferred to Uludağ University first and then to Zeytinbağı Municipality for restorations that never took place.
District Mayor Ali Turan stated, “After the ministries give authorization, Taş Mektep will be put up for sale for about 3 million (Turkish) Liras ($1.68 million.) There is a lot of demand for it. Arabs and the Fener Greek Patriarchate also want to buy it.” Tirilye district, which has a 3,000-year history, boasts many churches, seminaries and holly springs from the Greeks.
According to Tirilye Mayor Ali Turan about 8 million liras ($4.44 million) would otherwise be needed for restoration. “We cannot afford it. The building will collapse if not restored. So, we brought the option of selling it to council’s agenda. The decision (to sell the building) has been issued.”
Among others, he also stressed “Arabs also want to buy Taş Mektep. Also, the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which bought Kemerli Church last year, wants it too. The one who buys Taş Mektep will probably use it as a hotel after its restoration is completed.”
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
