THE GREEK MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER AND CITIZEN PROTECTION VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE

On Tuesday evening, 4th /17th January 2017, the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection Mr. Nikolaos Toskas visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by a team of his associates, his wife and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos.

The Minister was received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Within the framework of this visit, the Minister asked His Beatitude to update him on the progress of the exceptional work of the maintenance and restoration of the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre by the N.T.U.A. , on the incoming pilgrims despite the recurring incidents of violence in Jerusalem, tomorrow’s visit in the River Jordan, the arrivals of a multitude of local and from other areas of Israel pilgrims there, as well as pilgrims from the occupied Palestinian regions, and those from Greece, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Cyprus.

His Beatitude also briefed the Minister on the efforts of the Patriarchate to preserve the Status Quo of the Holy Shrines and the character of Jerusalem as the Holy City and a prototype of a peaceful, religious cohabitation. 

The Minister thanked His Beatitude for his reception and updating, while His Beatitude asked him to convey to the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Alexis Tsipras His best wishes and the invitation for the delivery of the Edicule at the completion of its restoration project.

The Minister offered His Beatitude a gilded crown with laurel leaves, while His Beatitude offered him and each of the members of his colleagues icons of the Holy Edicule and of Theotokos; the visitors left with the intention to visit the Church of the Resurrection the following day.

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/AvFJfqauQ8I

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