October 14, 2010
This is the first time a property title is returned to a religious minority.
The Council of the General Directorate of Waqf Foundations unanimously decided to reinstate the legal title of the Orphanage in compliance with the relevant decision of the ECHR. The decision overturns “information” supporting that the Council will seek new ways to refrain from implementing the decision of the ECHR.
The decision on the proprietary status of the Orphanage title also paves the way towards the return of 23 more Orthodox Institutions located in the Princes’ Islands of Prinkipo, Halki, Antigone, Proti.
The building of the Orphanage will reopen and serve as a
centre for Interfaith Dialogue and Peace and as a World
Environmental Center.
The Orphanage is the largest wooden building in Europe and
second largest in the world. It was built in 1898 by a
French company running the Orient Express as a hotel. In
1902 it was purchased by a family of Greek bankers and in
1903 the property was transferred to the Patriarchate
which used the building as an orphanage. In 1964 the
Orphanage was closed during the crisis over the Cyprus
issue and has never operated again.
