The document describes the Great School of the Nation in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded in 1454 by the Patriarch Gennadios of Scolario. The school is located in the historic Fanari neighborhood and its magnificent red brick building was designed by architect Konstantinos Dimadis. The school operates as a junior high and high school for Orthodox Christian Turkish citizens, with education provided in both Greek and Turkish languages.

1. TRAVELLING WORDSTRAVELLING WORDS
Erasmus+ ProjectErasmus+ Project
SECOND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGSECOND INTERNATIONAL MEETING
15 – 20 APRIL 2015, SILISTRA15 – 20 APRIL 2015, SILISTRA

2. ÖZEL FENER RUM LİSESİÖZEL FENER RUM LİSESİ
1454 - ∞1454 - ∞
((THE PATRIARCHAL GREAT SCHOOL OF THETHE PATRIARCHAL GREAT SCHOOL OF THE
NATION)NATION)

3. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
The Great School of the Nation was founded in 1454The Great School of the Nation was founded in 1454
by the Patriarch Gennadios of Scolario, the firstby the Patriarch Gennadios of Scolario, the first
Patriarch after the conquest of Constantinople byPatriarch after the conquest of Constantinople by
Mehmet II.Mehmet II.
 The first headmaster of the school was the greatThe first headmaster of the school was the great
teacher Matthew Kamariotis.teacher Matthew Kamariotis.
In the centuries that followed, the school excelled asIn the centuries that followed, the school excelled as
a result of the influence of its great scholars anda result of the influence of its great scholars and
leaders.leaders.

4. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
The magnificent building of the school was designedThe magnificent building of the school was designed
by the architect Konstantinos Dimadis.It is beautifullyby the architect Konstantinos Dimadis.It is beautifully
located on the highest position of Fanari -the arealocated on the highest position of Fanari -the area
around the Ecumenical Patriarchate- on the fifth hill ofaround the Ecumenical Patriarchate- on the fifth hill of
the City, on land that belonged to Dimitri Kandemir,the City, on land that belonged to Dimitri Kandemir,
Prince of Moldova, historian and graduate of thePrince of Moldova, historian and graduate of the
School. The school can easily be spotted from manySchool. The school can easily be spotted from many
different points of the Golden Horn.different points of the Golden Horn.

5. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
It is also known asIt is also known as The Red SchoolThe Red School because of itsbecause of its
red fire bricks brought from Marseilles. If you havered fire bricks brought from Marseilles. If you have
the chance to get a bird’s eye view of the School,the chance to get a bird’s eye view of the School,
you will see an eagle with open wings. The openingyou will see an eagle with open wings. The opening
of the school was in 1882.of the school was in 1882.

6. Our school is a Greek minority school in Turkey.Our school is a Greek minority school in Turkey.
Only students which are Orthodox Christians andOnly students which are Orthodox Christians and
Turkish citizens are allowed to enroll to our school.Turkish citizens are allowed to enroll to our school.
The school operates as a junior high school (5The school operates as a junior high school (5thth
- 8- 8thth
grades) and a high school (9grades) and a high school (9thth
– 12– 12thth
grades).grades).
There are 53 students in our school this year.There are 53 students in our school this year.
THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION

7. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
The education is in the Greek and TurkishThe education is in the Greek and Turkish
languages.languages.
School subjects which are taught in Greek are:School subjects which are taught in Greek are:
Greek language and literature, psychology,Greek language and literature, psychology,
philosophy, religion culture, mathematics, geometry,philosophy, religion culture, mathematics, geometry,
biology, health, physics, chemistry, science andbiology, health, physics, chemistry, science and
technology, art, music and physical education.technology, art, music and physical education.
School subjects taught in Turkish are: TurkishSchool subjects taught in Turkish are: Turkish
language and literature, geography, history, sociallanguage and literature, geography, history, social
studies, ethics.studies, ethics.
The foreign language taught in our school is English.The foreign language taught in our school is English.

8. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
The lessons start at 8.50 and finish at 3.10.The lessons start at 8.50 and finish at 3.10.
We have 8 lessons a day. Each lesson is 40We have 8 lessons a day. Each lesson is 40
minutes in lenght.minutes in lenght.
We have lunch at half past twelve. Our meals areWe have lunch at half past twelve. Our meals are
healthy and delicious.healthy and delicious.
We play football, basketball, voleyball in our schoolWe play football, basketball, voleyball in our school
yard.yard.
We learn traditional Greek dances.We learn traditional Greek dances.
We visit museums, exhibitions, book fairs.We visit museums, exhibitions, book fairs.
We take part in seminars organised by differentWe take part in seminars organised by different
institutions.institutions.

9. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
We take part in differentWe take part in different
literary and sport competitions.literary and sport competitions.
We organise lectures byWe organise lectures by
authors, poets and generally byauthors, poets and generally by
experts in their field.experts in their field.
We decorate a big ChristmasWe decorate a big Christmas
tree in the entrance hall of ourtree in the entrance hall of our
school every December.school every December.
We organise a ChristmasWe organise a Christmas
Bazaar.Bazaar.
We organise a high schoolWe organise a high school
reunion every year.reunion every year.

10. THE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATIONTHE GREAT SCHOOL OF THE NATION
This year we are celebrating the 560This year we are celebrating the 560thth
foundingfounding
anniversary of our school.anniversary of our school.
 We are proud to be students & teachers at suchWe are proud to be students & teachers at such
a historical school that resembles a castle.a historical school that resembles a castle.