A GROUP OF GREEK PARLIAMENT MEMBERS VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE

On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 27 / May 10, 2022, a group of Greek MPs, accompanied by the Ambassador of Greece to Tel Aviv Mr Kyriakos Loukakis and the Consul General of Greece Mr Evangelos Vlioras visited the Patriarchate.

This group was received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of this visit, replying to their questions, His Beatitude informed them about the last tense situation for political and religious reasons, and the attempt by the Patriarchate along with the other Churches of Jerusalem for the prevalence of recession, conciliation and peace for the safeguarding of the multi-religious and multicultural character and of the Status Quo of Jerusalem, as well as of the Old City.

To the question regarding the division in the Orthodox Church nowadays, His Beatitude said that the Patriarchate as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy Land makes many efforts to mitigate and narrow the created schism, projecting dialogue as a means of achieving unity.

For the preservation of the Status Quo, it recommends the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan which has sustained the Custody over the Holy Land.

To the question, of how Greece can help, His Beatitude said that this is possible if it fulfils its role, which was given to Greece as the successor of the Byzantine Empire.

For this visit, the MPs offered His Beatitude a painting with the House of Parliament, while the latter offered them a silver painting of Jerusalem and an icon of the Theotokos of Jerusalem.

From Secretariat-General