His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received a warm welcome from His Excellency the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. George Papandreou, when he visited him on 9th December 2009, in his office at the Hellenic Parliament, accompanied by His Beatitude Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.
During their meeting, which lasted forty minutes, they discussed matters especially with regard to the missionary effort of the Patriarchate of Alexandria as well as to Greeks abroad.
Addressing an invitation to the Greek Prime Minister to pay an official visit to the see of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Venerable Primate of the Orthodox Church of Africa, he gave him a silver vase which was made by children in Egypt, and decorated with the dove of peace. “We offer it to you symbolically”, said the Patriarch, “because you always spread peace and you work for peace”.
On his behalf, the Prime Minister gave His Beatitude a silver vase engraved with the Greek Trireme, emphasizing that it “symbolizes the Greece of the seas and the of the mainland”
“I will have it in my office, when I start out on the many journeys on the continent of Africa and on the oceans, to remember my dear friend, the Prime Minister”, the Alexandrian Primate replied.
During their meeting, the two Primates were accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, His Beatitude’s representative in Athens and His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia and Naoussa.
