Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday in Athens.
During their brief dialogue in front of the reporters present, the Patriarch relayed the warm wishes of the Orthodox priesthood in Istanbul to the Greek Prime Minister while highlighting the fact that their meeting coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Greek state granting to the Patriarchate a church in downtown Athens.
The Holy Church of Saint Nicholas, located at the corner of Vasilisis Sofias Avenue and Ploutarchou Street in Athens, was erected in 1875 and was granted by the newly established Greek state after the 1821 War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
On his part, after welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Mitsotakis praised his work as highly important and noted, among other things, that “you are arriving at a very pleasant moment, as you mentioned, but every visit of yours is an opportunity for us to discuss broader developments that also concern our region—issues on which I know you have both an opinion and the courage to express it, something I believe is widely appreciated.”
“Once again, I would like to welcome you to the Maximos Mansion, expressing—I’m certain—the sentiments of all Greek women and men toward you personally, as well as toward the important work you are carrying out,” Mitsotakis.
The PM said the visit always filled Greeks with strength, courage, and resolve to continue along the country’s difficult path. During the meeting, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gifted the Prime Minister a photograph of the two of them during their recent visit to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis.
