President of the Hellenic Republic Constantine Tassoulas on Tuesday had a meeting at the presidential mansion with Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, in the presence of Deputy Foreign Ministers Alexandra Papadopoulou and Yiannis Loverdos. Described as “warm and cordial”, the meeting confirmed both sides’ commitment to strengthening and upgrading their cooperation.
The President welcomed the Patriarch of Jerusalem to Greece, expressing profound respect and stressing that Greece is indissolubly and historically bound to the ancient and venerable Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, through spiritual, historical, and national ties.
He further emphasized that the Patriarch’s presence constitutes a blessing for the Greek people and, at the same time, a reminder of the important mission carried out by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Holy Land as a guardian of the Christian faith, peaceful coexistence, and the preservation of humanity’s cultural and religious heritage.
He highlighted Greece’s desire to continue and upgrade its cooperation with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, pointing to the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture for the preservation of ecclesiastical relics and monuments.
In a period marked by challenges, conflicts, and uncertainty, he added, the message of peace, dialogue, and solidarity conveyed by the Church acquires heightened significance. The Holy Places, he stressed, must remain places of prayer, understanding, hope, and love for all peoples. Orthodoxy, he continued, can continue to project a strong message of reconciliation and peace through the preservation of unity, close cooperation, and fraternal dialogue among the ancient Patriarchates.
He also underlined that Greece has consistently recognized and supported the work and high mission of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre in preserving the Christian presence and heritage in the Middle East and safeguarding the Holy Shrines. He particularly acknowledged the Patriarchate’s contribution during the recent crisis in Gaza and its role in supporting and protecting Christian communities in the region.
In recognition of this contribution, he announced, the Greek state has decided to confer honorary distinctions upon the Archbishop of Tiberias and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza, as well as Archimandrite Sila, as a token of esteem for their work in war-time conditions.
He concluded by noting that further avenues are being explored to strengthen cooperation, particularly regarding the preservation of the Patriarchate’s presence and mission in the Holy Land and, crucially, the maintenance of the status quo in the Old City of Jerusalem.
On his part, Patriarch Theophilos thanked President Tassoulas for his warm reception and spoke not merely of a “ re-baptism” of relations between Greece and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He referred to the multifaceted role of the Patriarchate throughout history, representing the entire Christian world and all Orthodox Churches – especially the “God-protected nation and people” – while also acknowledging the significant pressures and difficulties faced in Gaza, including attempts to evacuate the Monastery of Saint Porphyrios under political and military pressure.
Referring to the Patriarchate’s divinely entrusted mission, he stressed its role in safeguarding the Holy Shrines as living places of worship and prayer, noting that without the Patriarchate and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, the sacred sites would have fallen into ruin or survived merely as archaeological remnants.
He further underlined that the Patriarchate currently plays not only a spiritual and moral role but also, inevitably, a diplomatic and even political one. The Patriarch reiterated that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is fundamentally a spiritual institution whose mission is to serve, minister, and uphold the moral teachings of the Holy Scriptures and the inviolable dignity of the human person, created in the image of God.
He emphasized the Patriarchate’s contribution to fostering balance, connection and coexistence among peoples, as well as promoting interfaith and inter-Christian dialogue and harmonious relations among the Orthodox Churches, including the ancient Patriarchates and the wider Orthodox world.
Referring to the Holy Sepulchre, he described it as the pinnacle of all pilgrimages and the ultimate point of unity for all Christians of every confession, where all are spiritually united. This, he said, constitutes both the strength of the Patriarchate and a symbol of Christian unity.
He also reiterated the challenges faced, including pressures regarding Gaza, while expressing gratitude to the Greek state and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the conferment of honors, calling it a moral strengthening of their mission.
Photos: YIANNIS PANAGOPOULOS / EUROKINISSI
