On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace of Brussels, accompanied by Metropolitan Athinagoras of Belgium, Deacon Kallinikos Chasapis and Nikolaos Manginas.
The Ecumenical Patriarch had a personal conversation with King Philippe, with whom he exchanged views on various issues of common interest. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the King for all the benefits of the Belgian State to the Orthodox Church.
Afterwards, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited Deputy Prime Minister, Koen Geens, at his office, with whom he had a long conversation in a warm climate.
Koen Geens is also Minister of Justice who is responsible for religious affairs. The Ecumenical Patriarch once again thanked the deputy prime minister and his associates, who attended the meeting, for their care for the Orthodox Church in Belgium, and invited him to visit the Phanar.