HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM VISITS THE PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL

On Tuesday afternoon 20th September/3rd October 2017, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos visited the President of the State of Israel Mr. Reuven Rivlin, escorted by the Patriarchal Commissioner Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias and Geronda Secretary-General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina.

Present at this visit were the President’s wife, his diplomatic counsellor Mr. David Saraga, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Akiba Tour and the managers of the Department of Christian Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Religions of Israel. His Beatitude presented the President with the potential problem for the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, should the recent decisions of the Isreaeli court regarding the contracts of the Patriarchate’s hotels in Jaffa Gate take effect. These contracts were signed by Mr. Nikolaos Papademas, financial manager of the former Patriarch of Jerusalem Irinaios, with the company “Ateret Kohanim”.

The President of Israel gave the matter the appropriate attention, as it was explained by His Beatitude, and committed himself to convey the message to the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, in order to examine all possible ways for the salvation of this problem, and establish the peaceful co-existence of the Judaic, Christian and Muslim Communities, as well as the existing Status Quo of the Old City of Jerusalem.

From Secretariat-General