Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the centenary celebrations of the Turkish Republic

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Benjamin of Tralee, travelled to Ankara on Sunday morning, 29 October 2023, and attended the reception at the Presidential Palace to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in Turkey.

The other religious leaders were also present, as always, many diplomats of foreign countries and many other officials.

In the early afternoon the Patriarch and other representatives of faiths and religions, ministers and other officials travelled with the Head of State, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Presidential aircraft to Constantinople.

From the airport they were driven to the Sultan’s Pavilion Vahdettin Köşkü, on the east side of the Bosphorus, where they attended a rich festive programme, listened to the President’s speech, and attended a dinner in a small intimate group of officials and representatives.

The impressive events came to an end at 8:30 p.m.