In Turkey, however, any issue involving religion is extremely sensitive and could butt against EU demands for greater openness.
The firmly secular republic that succeeded the Ottoman Empire in 1923 has unwavering support from nearly all military and political leaders in the overwhelmingly Muslim country.
Women are barred from wearing Islamic head scarves in schools and government offices. Compulsory primary school education was extended to eight years in part to limit the reach of private, Islamic-oriented high schools. No independent religious schools are allowed for higher degrees -- which forced the closure of the Orthodox school on Halki, or Heybeli in Turkish.
The patriarch's status is also caught in Turkey's ongoing battles between secular leaders and religious traditions.
Some officials strongly object to any reference to the patriarch as "ecumenical" -- meaning global or universal -- or loosening the requirements that he be a Turkish citizen. They worry such moves could weaken Turkish influence over the faith.
"The Turkish state doesn't want to hear the word `ecumenical' uttered," said Baskin Oran, a political science professor at Ankara University in Turkey's capital.
A Turkish parliament member, Onur Oymen, said amending the religious education rules for the Orthodox could open the door for Islamic fundamentalists and other groups to seek the same privileges.
"Laws prohibit private high-level religious schools. There isn't a single Muslim university in Turkey," he said. "It doesn't have anything to do with [being] Christian or Muslim."
But Greece's foreign minister, George Papandreou, said reopening Halki has been part of EU accession discussions. Greece has put aside its long-standing animosity toward Turkey to become its main EU sponsor in a bid for greater regional security.
"I hope Turkey sees [Halki] as one more bridge between itself and Europe," said Papandreou, "and therefore a vital interest."
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