Patriarch John X of Antioch paid a visit to the Turkish Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan, accompanied by Bishops Constantine Kayal and Arsenios Dahdal, Father Esper Timur, parish priest of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Mersin, Archimandrite Paul Ordoloǧlu, Vicar of Patriarch John in Antioch, and the President of the Association in the parish of Mersin, Mr. Jan Arab, at the governor’s residence in Mersin.
At the outset, the governor of Mersin, Ali Hamza Pahlawan, welcomed Patriarch John X and the accompanying delegation, thanking him for the stance of love and brotherhood that he took during such a difficult and hard circumstance that afflicted the people of the region after the earthquake. The governor commended the merits of the Patriarch, who stood by his children from the first moment, promising Patriarch John to complete and provide aid In Mersin, Antioch, Iskenderun, and wherever needed, to alleviate the suffering and pain of the Church’s children in these hard conditions.
In turn, Patriarch John thanked the governor of Mersin for his kind reception. He also expressed gratitude to the Turkish state and government, especially the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, as well as the Municipality of Mersin, for all the efforts they made and exerted in order to make this paternal inquiry visit a success.
The Patriarch also affirmed: “Antioch has always been an example of coexistence. Throughout history, it has given testimonies of life in love and brotherhood, and this is what makes its particularity, as a region that encompasses many denominations that all speak the language of love.”
Source: Patriarchate of Antioch
