The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece at the Phanar
On Wednesday, 30 April 2025, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Georgios Gerapetritis, who visited the Sacred Centre of Orthodoxy for the first time after assuming his multi-responsible duties.
The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador Mr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, and other associates.
After the lunch hosted by His All-Holiness in honour of the Minister and his entourage, at the premises of the Marasli School, the private meeting between the Patriarch and the Minister followed, during which the two men had the opportunity to discuss the ecumenical ministry of the First Throne Church of Orthodoxy and its initiatives towards promoting and deepening inter-Christian and inter-religious dialogue. Issues of concern to the Mother Church and the surrounding Greek Orthodox community in Constantinople, as well as other topical issues of mutual interest, were also discussed.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in a statement after his meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople on Wednesday, expressed the support of the Greek state for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
He said that he had a long and extremely beneficial discussion with the Patriarch, during which they had the opportunity to discuss issues concerning the diaspora, the Greeks in Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the Halki Theological School. Gerapetritis also expressed his hope that not only the Halki Theological School but also the Maraslis School would reopen in the future, noting that such a development would serve as a powerful symbol of ecumenism, tolerance, and culture.
In addition, Gerapetritis praised the work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which, he said, supports not only Orthodoxy but also the principles of love and solidarity which “in such a turbulent period for the world should govern human and inter-state relations.”
The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs then venerated the Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George.
Photographs: Nikos Papachristou
