At the gracious invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Turkey, the Ecumenical Patriarch, accompanied by Patriarch Barnabas, visited Ankara on the afternoon of Monday, May 13, 2024. There, they attended a dinner hosted at the Beştepe Presidential Palace in honor of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who was on an official visit to the city.
Following the dinner, the Ecumenical Patriarch returned to Constantinople on the same day, only to depart early the next morning, Tuesday, May 14, for Lisbon. His purpose was to participate in the proceedings of the KAICIID World Dialogue Forum, where he will deliver a keynote speaking role.
Accompanying the Ecumenical Patriarch on his journey are Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, and Patriarchal Deacon Epifanius Kamianovych. In Lisbon, they will be joined by local Metropolitan Bessarion of Spain and Portugal.
It is noteworthy that on Saturday, May 11, 2024, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, responded to a gracious invitation from prominent businessman and friend of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Rahmi M. Koç. They attended the inauguration of a Museum established by Koç in an old olive mill formerly owned by the Georgalas family before the population exchange.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries from Turkey and Greece, including the Regional Governor of the North Aegean and the Mayor of Mytilene. After exploring ancient temples, museums, and mosques, the Patriarch returned to Ayvalik on Sunday afternoon, concluding a memorable visit to the region.
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
