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THE VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY OF GREECE TO THE PATRIARCHATE

On the afternoon of Monday, March 29 / April 11, 2022, the Minister of Development and Energy of Greece, Mr Konstantinos Skrekas, visited the Patriarchate while on a one-day visit to Israel, accompanied by his associates, Mr Nikolaou Giotopoulos, Mr Theodoros Tsakiris, Mr Manousos Manousakis and the Ambassador of Greece to Tel Aviv Mr Kyriakos Loukakis and the Consul of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras.

His Excellency the Minister and his associates were warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

During this visit, there was a discussion about the recent tense political situation after the occurrence of severe violence and its victims and about the efforts of the Patriarchate to create an appeal.

There was also a discussion about the help of the Patriarchate to the needy Palestinians – members of this flock and others, about the cancellation of paying the rent of their homes for the year 2020  of the encroachment the Christians undergo of their property, of the hotel “Mikra Petra” and of the irrational security measures of the Police for the ceremony of the Holy Light on Holy Saturday.

At this critical juncture in the history of the Patriarchate, the Minister said that the Greek Government would make every effort to secure the property and the pilgrimage rights for the benefit and prosperity of the Christian element.

For this visit, His Beatitude offered the Minister a plaque of Jerusalem and blessings for his associates, while the latter offered His Beatitude cufflinks set and asked His blessing to venerate the Holy Sepulchre.

From Secretariat-General