Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with visiting Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Maximos Mansion on Friday, with discussions focusing on regional instability, the protection of Christian communities in the Middle East and developments surrounding the still-closed Halki Theological School on the same-name Marmara Sea island.
In welcoming the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Mitsotakis said Bartholomew’s presence conveyed optimism “during difficult and turbulent times,” noting symbolically that cloudy weather in Athens during the morning had given way to sunshine upon his arrival.
The meeting comes amid renewed diplomatic and religious attention on the status of Orthodox communities in the Middle East following recent violence and political instability in Syria and Lebanon. According to media reports this week, discussions also touched on inter-Orthodox relations and ongoing efforts to restore unity after years of tensions linked to the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s recognition – the granting of autocephaly – of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Mitsotakis highlighted the upcoming 35th anniversary of Bartholomew’s enthronement, later this year, and reiterated Athens’ longstanding support for the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate and its mission.
He also referred to what he described as positive developments regarding the possible reopening of the Halki Theological School on the island of Heybeliada (Halki) near Istanbul — a longstanding demand of the Patriarchate and an issue repeatedly raised by both Greek officials, other countries, including Donald Trump, and international religious freedom advocates.
Bartholomew thanked Athens for its support and conveyed greetings from the ethnic Greek community of Turkey. He said meetings held during his stay in Athens had taken place in an atmosphere of “love and mutual respect.”
The Patriarch also expressed concern over the shrinking Christian populations in the Middle East, revealing that he had recently spoken with the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East about the challenges facing Christian communities in Syria and Lebanon.
In recent years, international organizations and church leaders have repeatedly warned about the rapid decline of Christian populations across the region due to war, economic collapse and migration pressures.
Bartholomew further said efforts were underway to strengthen cooperation among Orthodox Churches after years of internal disputes. He announced plans to visit Imbros (known as Gökçeada in Turkish) next month alongside the Patriarchs of Romania and Bulgaria for talks aimed at deepening inter-Orthodox relations and addressing issues affecting the wider Orthodox world.
