The Dominican Study Institute (Dost-I) was established in 1996 after the death of mons. Pierre Claverie OP, the Dominican bishop of Oran, Algeria, who was assassinated for his commitment to an inclusive and welcoming society. In the aftermath of his death, the Master of the Order Timothy Radcliffe called for greater efforts to increase intercultural dialogue and ecumenical relations between different Churches and rites. Dominican friars and sisters, who were working mainly in Muslim regions, gathered in Istanbul. A few years later, necessary decisions were made at this international meeting and a couple of young brothers were assigned to work in Istanbul and Cairo. Thus, DoSt-I was founded.
Since September 11, 2020, Dost-I has been recognised as a center of specialized studies of the Province of Saint Dominic in Italy.
Vision: Our name is The Dominican Study Institute, and DoSt-I is a pun referring to a Turkish word meaning “friend.” Our goal is to facilitate dialogue and expand the comparison between different cultures by taking advantage of the rich and diversified religious and cultural environment of the megalopolis situated on the two continents (Europe and Asia).
Mission: Taking advantage of Istanbul’s rich and diverse religious and cultural environment, DoSt-I develops a scientific methodology of comparative study and research. This study looks at interreligious and ecumenical issues in relation to theology, art, and culture, and how to update and apply dialogue in a way that fits today’s world.
DoSt-I promotes interdisciplinary study and research and encourages academic activities through the organization of seminars, training schools, conferences, and events of cultural and religious interest.
Significant Undertakings: In the last years, DoSt-I has organized many events, including talks, seminars, exhibitions, and summer schools, which have involved a variety of people, including Muslims and Christians, academicians and professionals, and religious and lay people.
Among the most recently undertaken initiatives, our international conferences are of high importance. One such conference is dedicated to the Fossati brothers, who were the Swiss architects who restored Ayasofya and designed the most recent Dominican church in Istanbul. Another noteworthy conference was entitled “Travelling to the East–Marco Polo and the Mendicant friars”, an international conference which took place in September 2024 in Venice.
Future Objectives: For 2025 DoSt-I is focusing on the topic of “Sacred Spaces.” We will work on this issue from a theological framework, considering interreligious, architectural, and social aspects as well.
A long-term project we are currently working on is finishing the restoration of the old Dominican priory to make it suitable to be a center of culture and research, fitted with study rooms, a conference hall, and lodging for students and researchers. Moreover, we are making a continuous effort towards deepening our connections with Dominican and Turkish theologians by increasing our research activities and being involved in interfaith dialogue for a cultivated readership.
