Fener Greek Secondary School and High School




Fener Greek Secondary School and High School, founded in 1454 in the Fener district of Istanbul, is one of the oldest and most magnificent schools in history. The school has also been called the "Patriarchate Academy", "Red School" or "First Academy", "Mekteb-i Kebir" in history. The school, which has been providing education for more than 500 years, continued its activities under different names before the conquest of Istanbul, and its current name was inspired by the Fener district where it is located.


After the conquest of Istanbul, the ruling class and merchants of Byzantium left the city and took refuge in the Aegean Islands, Italy and France. Mehmet the Conqueror called all the Orthodox of Istanbul back to the city in 1454. Fatih, who made this call official with an edict, stated that the Orthodox would be able to receive education in their own language, they would be able to revive their patriarchate and they would be able to perform all their worship freely as in the past. Thereupon, the former Byzantines, who had left Istanbul, returned to the city in groups. The Patriarchate was placed in the Twelve Apostles Monastery, where the Fatih Mosque was located at that time. The office of the Patriarchate, which was later transferred to the Fethiye Church, was finally moved to its current location in Fener. In accordance with the agreement between Patriarch Gennadios and Fatih Sultan, a school was established within the borders of Fener in 1454. The Ottoman Empire provided extensive opportunities to this educational institution, which over the centuries was known as the "Patriarchate Academy" or "Greek Mekteb-i Kebiri". Many Phanariot Greeks, chief translators, chiefs of Wallachia and Moldavia, patriarchs and high religious officials who had served in the highest positions of the Ottoman Empire were educated from this school.


During the Ottoman period, the principals of the school were chosen from among the religious officials. The courses taught were mainly theological, ancient and contemporary philosophy, classical philology and literature. Among the teachers of the school were very famous writers and researchers. Among them, father and son Zigomos (1556-1580), Theophilos Koridaleus (1621-1639), Alexandros Mavrokordatos (1663-1671), Avgenios Vulgaris (1760-1761) and Konstantin Kumas are world-famous names. After 1861, the school turned into a classical education high school. The magnificent building that has survived to the present day was built in 1881 by the architect Dimadis. In 1903, a department for training primary school teachers, giving classical philology and pedagogy education, was added to the school. One of the most magnificent buildings on both sides of the Golden Horn, the school was named Fener Greek Boys' High School after the republic. Education was given to female students in a building located on Tevkii Cafer Mektebi Sokak, right next to the school. After the schools became mixed, female students moved to the Fener Greek Boys High School building. The present building of the school was built by architect Dimadis, one of the most important architects of the nineteenth century and a graduate of Fener Greek Boys High School.


Most of the building materials of the work, which is the largest building after Süleymaniye among the structures on both sides of the Golden Horn, were brought from Marseille. Dimadis, who also built castles in various European countries, especially in Italy and Spain, finished the work in five years. Built on a high hill on the ridges of lighthouses, the work draws attention with its wide and high façade, red fire bricks and a thick tower with a dome in the middle. Due to its size, it is often thought of as the Fener Greek Patriarchate, which is much smaller in structure.


Source: www.fatih.gov.tr, www.fenerrumlisesi.k12.tr

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