More specifically, and according to the information provided by ANA-MPA, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received the director of the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, Demetrios Zotos, with the philologist Eleni Angelis and the students Ioanna Karadas, Olga Kiosker and Selina Djardjar, who received the first prize in the competition titled “The Greek language is a soul, the soul of civilization”, co-organized by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, in collaboration with the Greek Department of IBBY – Circle of the Hellenic Children’s Book.
Patriarch Bartholomew congratulated the pupils, the director of the College and all of its educators. He wished them more successes and assured them that the Mother Church will always take care of the reinforcement of Hellenism.
On Tuesday, the Ecumenical Patriarch also received a group of Cypriot educators from London, as ANA-MPA points out.
In his speech, he referred to the centuries-old close ties of cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Cyprus, as well as the work of the Great Church of Christ, which despite the various difficulties and the shrinking of its flock in its historic seat, continues its ecumenical mission with the same dynamism and determination.
He made particular mention of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s initiatives to promote inter-Christian and interreligious dialogue, and he asked the pilgrims to bring to their relatives, their colleagues and their pupils the affection and blessing of the Patriarchate.
Later, ANA-MPA underlines, the Ecumenical Patriarch welcomed the graduates of the Athonite Ecclesiastical Academy.
The Patriarch, as a spiritual father and Shepherd of Mount Athos too, had the opportunity to discuss with the teachers and pupils, to whom he gave parental advice and his Patriarchal blessing for the continuation of their work, which bears numerous responsibilities, and success in their studies. Once again, he expressed the deep love and affection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Monastic State of Mount Athos.