THE VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT K. PANAGIOTIS PIKRAMENOS TO THE PATRIARCHATE

On Tuesday, 15/28 June 2022, the Vice President of the Greek Government Mr Panagiotis Pikramenos visited the Patriarchate.

His Excellency the Vice President was escorted by the Ambassador of Greece to Israel Mr Loukakis and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras, and was warmly welcomed by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude discussed with the Vice President very important issues related to the Holy Land, the antiquity and holiness of the Holy City of Jerusalem, the ancient “Solyma”, “the city of peace” throughout the centuries, about the Christians who live here and the difficulties they face.

His Beatitude also informed Mr Pikramenos about the mediator’s role of the Rum Orthodox Patriarchate and the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood in the safeguarding of the Holy Shrines of our faith within the very sensitive multi-religious, multi-doctrine and multi-cultural environment of the Holy Land, and about the positive perspectives that are currently being opened after the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod for the reopening of the Theological School of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

The Vice President of the Greek Government expressed his appreciation for the Patriarchate’s mission amidst a region of special significance, where it is expected to fulfil its pastoral and comforting work, stressing the undivided, complete and selfless support of the Greek people and the Greek State towards it.

Mr Pikramenos offered His Beatitude a copy of the artefacts displayed in Benaki Museum. His Beatitude offered him and his companions icons of the Theotokos of Jerusalem, the Sacred Edicule, a book of the History of the Church of Jerusalem by the blessed Archbishop of Athens Chrysostom Papadopoulos and crosses, as the delegation left to venerate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

From Secretariat-General