THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GREECE MR. ANTONIOS DIAMANTARIS VISITED THE PATRIARCHATE

On Friday morning, September 21/ October 4, 2019, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Antonios Diamantaris visited the Patriarchate, as part of his agenda in his visit in the State of Israel, escorted by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos.

Mr. Diamantaris was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In this meeting the Minister was informed by His Beatitude on the Status Quo of Jerusalem and the place of the Christians of the Holy Land in the areas of the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate, whose historical role is the long term preservation and safeguarding of the All-holy Shrines, as a follower of the Byzantine Empire.

As a pilgrim in the Holy Land, Mr. Diamantaris said he is happy for this visit and meeting and conveyed the wishes and respect of the Prime Minister of Greece to His Beatitude. Moreover, the Minister was committed to continue his undivided and real interest for the multifaceted and precious mission of the Patriarchate.

In appreciation of his support to the Patriarchate, His Beatitude honoured Mr. Diamantaris with the medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and offered him blessings from Jerusalem, while seeing him off to continue his pilgrimage at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

From Secretariat-General