Zografeion Lyceum
Encyclopedia
Zografeion Lyceum is one of the remaining open Greek
schools in Istanbul
. The school is in the Istanbul city centre in the Beyoğlu
district and very close to the Taksim Square
, which is considered the heart of the city.
, who was living in Paris
at the time, made the largest contribution, of 10,000 gold lira
s. In 1890, the Greek community decided that the school be renamed after Zografos. An architectural competition was held, choosing a design by Pericles Fotiades. The school was inaugurated in 1893 and its first alumni were graduated in 1899.
in 1955 and the deportations of Greeks in 1964, the number pupils were above 350. In October 1999, the school was the target of a small scale sonic blast by Turkish left-wing extremists to condemn "Turkey's international position as a -Satellite- of the USA". Many famous artists, architects, politicians and theologians of the Greek diaspora have studied at the school, including Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
. Today the school has no more than 45 pupils and 20 teachers. The school (like all minority schools, as it is compulsory by law) applies the full Turkish curriculum in addition to Greek subjects: Greek language, literature and religion.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
schools in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. The school is in the Istanbul city centre in the Beyoğlu
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
district and very close to the Taksim Square
Taksim Square
Taksim Square situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network...
, which is considered the heart of the city.
History
The school was founded in the late 19th century, as the growing number of Greek students proved to be more than the Zappeion and Panayia schools could accommodate; in particular, the School of Panayia (Σταυροδρόμι της Παναγίας) had more than 800 pupils. The community decided to build a new school, and donations were collected from a number of people. Christakis ZografosChristakis Zografos
Christakis Zografos - 1896, Paris, France) was a Greek banker holding Ottoman citizenship, benefactor and one of the distinguished personalities of the Greek community of Constantinople .-Early years-Career:...
, who was living in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the time, made the largest contribution, of 10,000 gold lira
Lira
Lira is the name of the monetary unit of a number of countries, as well as the former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican City and Israel. The term originates from the value of a Troy pound of high purity silver. The libra was the basis of the monetary system of the Roman Empire...
s. In 1890, the Greek community decided that the school be renamed after Zografos. An architectural competition was held, choosing a design by Pericles Fotiades. The school was inaugurated in 1893 and its first alumni were graduated in 1899.
The school
The school, like all minority schools in Turkey, is a secular school. The years that followed its openings, the school developed to a particularly active school and always had more than 250 pupils. Especially before the Istanbul PogromIstanbul Pogrom
The Istanbul riots , were mob attacks directed primarily at Istanbul's Greek minority on 6–7 September 1955. The riots were orchestrated by the Turkish government under Adnan Menderes. The events were triggered by the false news that the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki, north Greece—the...
in 1955 and the deportations of Greeks in 1964, the number pupils were above 350. In October 1999, the school was the target of a small scale sonic blast by Turkish left-wing extremists to condemn "Turkey's international position as a -Satellite- of the USA". Many famous artists, architects, politicians and theologians of the Greek diaspora have studied at the school, including Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, and thus "first among equals" in the Eastern Orthodox Communion, since 2 November 1991...
. Today the school has no more than 45 pupils and 20 teachers. The school (like all minority schools, as it is compulsory by law) applies the full Turkish curriculum in addition to Greek subjects: Greek language, literature and religion.
See also
- Patriarch Bartholomew I of ConstantinoplePatriarch Bartholomew I of ConstantinopleEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, and thus "first among equals" in the Eastern Orthodox Communion, since 2 November 1991...
- Greeks in TurkeyGreeks in TurkeyThe Greeks in Turkey constitute a population of Greek and Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox Christians who mostly live in Istanbul, including its district Princes' Islands, as well as on the two islands of the western entrance to the Dardanelles: Imbros and Tenedos .They are the remnants of the...
- Phanar Greek Orthodox CollegePhanar Greek Orthodox College-See also:*Fener*Greeks in Turkey*Zografeion Lyceum*List of schools in Istanbul*Ottoman Greeks...
- List of schools in Istanbul