ATHENS – [ANA-MPA]
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in a statement after his meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul on April 30, 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 Greek community in Istanbul, 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”.
