In 1995, when Br. Hermann Schalück, the General Minister at that time, met with the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, he was inspired to create an international fraternity to promote ecumenical dialogue. In the years that followed, succeeding General Ministers have followed through with this initiative which resulted to the composition of the current fraternity for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.
The general objectives of the Fraternity of Istanbul are: to give witness to the evangelical form of life, to promote ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, to live in communion with the local Church and to offer a permanent formation service to the Order.
The project has successfully developed after 12 years and so the General Minister, Br. Michael A. Perry, and his definitory have decided to open another fraternity in Smirne, Turkey with the same goals but adding the promotion of cultural dialogue.
From 25-30 of January, the brothers of the two fraternities have gathered in the General Curia in Rome for their first Chapter.
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