Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania

His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, as a representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew travelled to Lithuania, where on Tuesday, 6 February 2024, His Eminence with the Prime Minister of the country, Mrs. Ingrida Šimonytė.

His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon was accompanied by the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Lithuania, Hieromonk Fr. Ioustinos Kiviloo, who recently officially assumed his duties.

At the centre of their heartfelt discussion were issues related to the ministry of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the country, but also broader issues of mutual interest.

During his visit to Lithuania, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel also met with the clergy of the Exarchate, to whom he conveyed the blessing of His All-Holiness and his undiminished personal interest in the ministry and the work they perform for the benefit of their flock and Lithuanian society in general.

It is recalled that in March 2023, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made an official visit to the country’s capital, Vilnius, at the invitation of the Government of Lithuania, at which time he announced the intention of the Mother Church of Constantinople to establish a Patriarchal Exarchate there.