Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East emphasized the deep historical ties that unite the Church of Antioch with Greece.
The Patriarch made these remarks while receiving Mr. Georgios Kalantzis, Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Greece, at the Patriarchal headquarters in Balamand.
The meeting was attended by Mrs. Despina Kokoulopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to Lebanon, and Greek Consul Ignatios Papadimitriou. On behalf of the Antiochian side, the attendees included Dr. Elias Warrak, President of the University of Balamand; Archimandrite George Yaacoub, Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Monastery; and Archimandrite Jacob Khalil, Dean of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand.
Patriarch John X and the Greek delegation conducted a broad discussion covering the current state of the Church of Antioch and ways to strengthen and embody the historical relationship between the Church of Antioch and Greece, especially in light of the ongoing developments in the Middle East.
Following the meeting, the delegation joined the Patriarch in prayer at the monastery church.
