Concluding his visit to Imbros on the occasion of the Easter holidays, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew returned to Constantinople late on Tuesday afternoon, April 18 (2023), and today, Wednesday, at noon, will depart to the earthquake-stricken region of Turkey, along with the other religious leaders of the country and representatives of these Communities, as well as diplomats accredited to Turkey. There, they will visit affected sites and organizations and will attend the evening Iftar of the same day, returning the same day, with a private aircraft to Constantinople.
Patriarch Bartholomew will meet with Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, as well as with Patriarch John of Antioch, whose jurisdiction includes the Orthodox Communities of the region.
This visit is organized by the Municipality of Pera (Beyoğlu), with which SYRKI collaborated.
During the Patriarch’s absence in his hometown, Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria performed the duties of locum tenens.