A Greek Orthodox monk who entered Turkey in July has been missing for months, and the case has now reached Turkey's parl...

A Greek Orthodox monk who entered Turkey in July has been missing for months, and the case has now reached Turkey's parliament. Serhat Eren, an MP from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, submitted a formal parliamentary question to Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi demanding answers about the whereabouts of Father Iosif, born Nikolaos Tsigozis. The monk was last seen on July 25 at the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul, two days after crossing into Turkey. Consular officials say he visited asking for information about Trebizond, Soumela Monastery, other historic Greek Orthodox monasteries in the region, and transport routes to Cappadocia. He then left in the direction of Istanbul's intercity bus station and was not seen again. Eren's parliamentary question asked specifically whether Turkish authorities had taken any steps to locate Father Iosif, and whether they were cooperating with Greek consular officials and the monk's family in the search. No response from the Interior Ministry has been reported. Soumela Monastery, carved into a cliff above Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, holds deep significance for Greek Orthodox Christians and draws pilgrims and visitors from the diaspora every year. Father Iosif's apparent intention to travel toward sites connected to the historic Greek presence in the Pontus region makes his disappearance particularly troubling to the community. The fact that a Turkish MP, and one from an opposition party at that, had to force the question into parliament suggests the case had not been receiving adequate attention from Turkish authorities before now. Greek consular officials in Istanbul are involved in the search, according to the account given by Eren. #Greece #Turkey #SoumelaMonastery