GREECE’S DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEMETRIOS MARDAS, VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE

At noon of Tuesday, the 20^th of July/2^nd of August 2016, the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Demetrios Mardas, accompanied by the new Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, Consul Vasileios Koinis, and associates of his, visited the Patriarchate.

Deputy Minister Mardas and his entourage were welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, the Assistant Dragoman and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of the visit, an interesting discussion took place on the Monastery of the Prophet Elias and the significance of the region where the Prophet’s memory was recently observed. Reference was also made to the importance of the Holy Sites of Veneration and the protection of Christians in the Holy Land.

The Patriarchate’s mediation for the resolution of veneration and intercommunal problems in Jerusalem was also pointed out.

On this occasion, Patriarch Theophilos informed the Deputy Minister of restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, now underway according to the study conducted by the Nationtal Technical University of Athens and coordinated by Professor A. Moropoulou.

As a token of remembrance, His Beatitude offered Mr Mardas an icon of the Nativity of Christ, and received a medal shaped after an “olkas” sail ship.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/VxvcHfRjfQU