On Friday, July 1, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate and was warmly welcomed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
During their meeting, they had the opportunity to discuss extensively the initiatives of the Ecumenical Throne, the ministry of his Exarchate in Hungary, as well as other issues of mutual interest, such as the dramatic consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Szijjártó was accompanied by the Ambassador of Hungary to Ankara, Viktor Mátis, and the senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Péter Sztáray.
On the part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, and Grand Syncellus Iakovos attended the meeting.
It is recalled that during his last official visit to Hungary, in September 2021, the Ecumenical Patriarch performed the service of the laying of the foundation stone of the Church of the Three Hierarchs, in the renovated historical complex of the Karolyi family, of total surface 9000sqm, in the center of Budapest, which the Hungarian Government donated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2017, in order to house the Exarchate of Hungary.
Earlier, in 2014, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Hungarian Government, which regulates the relations of the Exarchate of Hungary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the State. It is worth noting that the Cooperation Pact highlights the important role that the Orthodox Church played in the history of Hungary. “Cyril and Methodius brought here Eastern Christianity, which is still present as a living ecclesiastical community. Already before the foundation of the state, the ancient Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople cultivated relations with the Hungarian people and sent Bishop Ierotheos to spread Christianity”, noted in the preamble of the Agreement signed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.
Photos: Press and Communication Office/ Ecumenical Patriarchate
