Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece was represented by Archimandrite Aristarchos Grekas, Assistant Professor of the Theological School of University of Athens, who delivered a speech at the two-day online Conference on Religious Diplomacy titled ‘Religions and Challenges in the New Decade’ that took place on December 9-10:
«… In the years to come it is urgent to think maturely of our Christian wealth, the respect that this wealth imposes on the other, the foreigner, the faithful of different denomination or religion, the irreligious and the atheist, so that from the base of society, deep respect for each other should be forthcoming,” said Archbishop Ieronymos. The Archbishop concluded: “Religious diplomacy and interfaith dialogue will solemnly condemn the deleterious religiousness and terrorism, will help the consolidation of peaceful coexistence within our globalized society.”
Nikos Dendias: Religious Diplomacy is a key parameter of our foreign policy
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, sent a video message regarding “Greece’s position on the religious issues of the Eastern Mediterranean”.
“Religious Diplomacy has been inherent in foreign policy since the dawn of the Modern Greek State. Given that Greece maintains historical and traditionally friendly bonds with the countries and peoples of the Middle East, it is a natural interlocutor of the countries of the wider region,” he noted.
He went on to say that “Religious Diplomacy is a key element of our foreign policy today, as we enter a new era in the Eastern Mediterranean, where religious issues have always been paramount.” Greece is assisting in efforts to protect religious communities from persecution and is participating in the preservation of religious monuments in the Middle East.”
In addition, he stressed that “Greece supports interreligious dialogue as a means to promote mutual understanding between believers of different religions and respect for human rights.”
Finally, he noted that “Greece, as a country with dense political experience, utilizes the potential of Religious Diplomacy with the aim of understanding every otherness.”
