Phanar Greek Orthodox College (Constantinople)

The Phanar Greek Orthodox College, known as ‘Patriarchal Great School of the Nation’ (Πατριαρχική Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή Patriarxikí Meγáli tu Γénus Sxolí), is the oldest Greek educational establishment in Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest. It is situated close to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar (Gk. Φανάρι Fanári; Turk. Fener). It became the main place of instruction for the powerful Phanariot Greek aristocracy, and then for the Istanbul Greek bourgeoisie. Nowadays, the number of pupils has dramatically diminished. Due to various sociolinguistic reasons, the use of Turkish as the main common language among the students increases, while the use of Greek in and outside the classrooms is increasingly reduced.