HIS BEATITUDE THE POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA MEETS WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE AND MEMBERS OF THE HELLENIC GOVERNMENT

Today, 1st December 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, paid a courtesy visit to the Maximou Mansion in Athens, to His Excellency the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Alexis Tsipras.

At this meeting which took place in an exceptionally cordial atmosphere, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Giannis Amanatides, His Beatitude the Patriarch handed the Prime Minister the newly-published volume on the total renovation of the Holy Church of St George Old Cairo, which was presented a few days previously at the Sarogleion Mansion in Athens, as well as an African wood carving.

Prior to this His Beatitude the Patriarch had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Greeks Abroad, Mr. Terence Quick, with whom he discussed issues regarding the Hellenic Communities in Africa. In his turn, Mr. Quick briefed the Patriarch saying that he will visit all the Greeks in Africa in stages, beginning very soon from the See of the Patriarchate in Alexandria and then in Cairo.

He then went on to meet with His Excellency the Minister of Education, Research and Religion Mr. Kostas Gavroglou, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Giannis Amanatides and with the Secretary General of Religions Mr. George Kalantzis. At this meeting, educational issues were discussed, regarding the Greek schools of the Diaspora on Africa. His Beatitude briefed his interlocutors about the missionary efforts and the work undertaken by the Second Throne Patriarchate on the African Continent, as well as the exceptionally great contribution of the Orthodox Educational Institutes which are operated by the Patriarchate of Alexandria throughout Africa.