LAST UPDATED: 21:00
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had a meeting with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias in Constantinople, which attracted the huge interest of the Turkish media.
Dendias said that “It is a great joy that today I meet the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew” adding that he conveys to him the warm greetings and respect of the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Dendias also conveyed his condolences, as well as the prime minister’s, for the unpleasant event of the death of the Patriarch’s associate.
“I would also like to wish him and congratulate him on completing this year thirty years of his presence on the Ecumenical Throne and – if I am not mistaken – sixty years of priesthood. May God supports and blesses his effort in the leadership of Orthodoxy” said the Greek minister.
He also said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very much interested in the Patriarch’s initiatives on particularly sensitive issues, such as, the environmental protection issues, for which the Ecumenical Throne has developed a great deal of global activity.
“I will, therefore, have the opportunity to discuss these issues with him, as well as issues concerning Orthodoxy, the Greek Diaspora in Constantinople, and other issues of common interest.
“It is for me, as I always say, great joy and honor to meet the Ecumenical Patriarch once again. Thank you very much, Your Holiness, for giving me this opportunity” said Nikos Dendias after their meeting.
Dendias was also scheduled to meet today with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, but the meeting was postponed to tomorrow, Thursday, April 15th. Dendias will return to Athens on the same day to attend the teleconference of NATO for Afghanistan which will be held tomorrow afternoon.
The message from Ecumenical Patriarchate
Ecumenical Patriarchate released an announcement for the meeting of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias which it was in a good and warm atmosphere.
At the beginning of their meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch warmly welcomed the Greek Foreign Minister and referred to tomorrow’s meeting Mr. Dendias is having with his Turkish counterpart Mr. Tsavousoglou in Ankara.
“The good bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece are of direct interest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate here in its Headquarters, its stability and the prosperity of the Greek Diaspora, because, for better or worse, these things are interdependent. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Expatriates feel the effects of good or bad relations between the two countries, objectively the Patriarchate as an ancient institution should not suffer the consequences of bilateral relations between the two countries, but it also happens, so we are glad for you visit.
The minister, although he had a very busy schedule, he wanted to have, from the very beginning, as soon as he arrived in Constantinople, this official communication with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We express to him, and through him we express to the Prime Minister and the Greek Government, all our wishes for success, both on the front of the pandemic and on the front of the consequences of the pandemic.
Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Greek Minister for the letter of condolence sent to him yesterday for the loss of his collaborator Nikolaos Magginas, as well as for the wreath sent by the Prime Minister.