THE AWARDING OF THE CONSUL GENERAL OF GREECE IN JERUSALEM MR DEMETRIOS ANGELOSOPOULOS AND OF THE CONSUL MRS CHRISTINA ZACHARIOUDAKI

On Saturday morning, September 10/23, 2023, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, according to the existing order of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, honoured the new Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Demetrios Angelosopoulos with the honorary distinction of the Grand Commander of the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre,  recognising the beginning of his office in the Consulate and as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross approaches.

His Beatitude wished Mr Angelosopoulos the strength of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, for a prosperous and fruitful ministry, for the benefit of the beloved nation of Greece, our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, our flock and all the communities of the Holy Land, stressing that the Patriarchate is a historical continuation and proof of the bond of the Holy Places with the Byzantine Empire throughout the centuries, as well as with Greece, and a guarantee for the presence of all Christians in the Holy Land. The Consul General was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Pothiti Pappa.

Mr Angelosopoulos thanked His Beatitude for this honour and offered Him gifts on the occasion of the beginning of his Office, a copy of a 16^th-century silver platter with the inscription of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer.  

On this same joyous occasion, His Beatitude awarded the honorary distinction of the Cross-bearer of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre to the Consul Mrs Christina Zacharioudaki, who was accompanied by her husband Mr Constantaras, upon the expiration of her service in the country, as an official of the Greek Consulate in Tel Aviv, and her loving cooperation with the Patriarchate.

Mrs Zacharioudaki thanked His Beatitude and promised that from her position in Greece she will always be an advocate for the rights of the Patriarchate, and all the communities of the Holy Land.

From Secretariat-General