The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, responding to an invitation of the President of the Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, went on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, to Ankara, where the President hosted an Iftar dinner, which is offered during the period of Ramadan after the end of the daily fast.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, who was accompanied by Elder Metropolitan Emmanouel of Chalcedon, expressed his wishes to President Erdoğan, and through it to all the Muslims of the country, for Ramadan and for the celebration of the Lent that follows.
He even wished for the All-Merciful God to protect every human being, especially during this period of the pandemic, and to strengthen the efforts of the competent State and local authorities, as well as the health services, to deal with it and support our suffering fellow humans. The Ecumenical Patriarch also thanked the President for his warm wishes to the Christians of Turkey, on the occasion of Easter.
Before dinner, the Metropolitan of Chalcedon had a special one-hour meeting with Ibrahim Kalın, close associate and advisor to the President.
The Patriarch and the Metropolitan of Chalcedon are going to return to Constantinople on the same day.