LAST UPDATE 17:03
Deputy Foreign Minister for Diaspora Greeks Antonis Diamataris is currently visiting Constantinople and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Hagia Sophia was the first place the deputy minister visited in the morning.
Later, he visited the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, which he described as “a beacon of Greek education throughout the centuries.”
Finally, he met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The deputy minister conveyed the full support of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Patriarchate and the work of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
During the meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to his friendship with Antonis Diamataris, stressing that he was confident that in his new position Diamataris would always support the Mother Church of Constantinople.
The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, noting that “we have elected a worthy Archbishop to be the shepherd of the biggest diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed the hope that Antonis Diamataris would have good cooperation with the two new shepherds, Archbishops of Thyeateira and of Australia.
On his part, the deputy minister said that the Greek State and he himself has great respect for the Ecumenical Patriarch while speaking of the unflagging interest of the Greek government in this centuries-old institution, the Mother Church of Constantinople.
Referring to the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, Antonis Diamataris said he was the most appropriate to be elected by the Ecumenical Patriarchate while he described as extraordinary the Hierarchs who were chosen to be the shepherds of the equally important eparchies, the Archdioceses of Thyateira and of Australia.
During the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the deputy minister wanted to know about the issues that concern the Mother Church, the Diaspora Greeks and the Orthodox faithful in Turkey as well as issues related to the ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
