"Unity existed, exists and will exist ", the Archbishop of Athens told reporters, who was welcomed in a warm climate, in his office in the Archdiocese, the Ecumenical Patriarch. The two hierarchs discussed issues concerning the Orthodox Church, including the recognition of the Church of Ukraine by the Greek Church.
"I wish and ask God to require us to always walk in peace, mutual love and good cooperation for the good of the Churches, the good of Orthodoxy and the good of the Greek people ", stressed the Ecumenical Patriarch during the meeting 40 minutes.
On Sunday morning, the two hierarchs will also meet at the Festive Mass at the Diocese of Athens for the Lives of the Virgin Mary, which will be broadcast live on ERT2.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has already visited the Metochion of the "Ascension of the Lord", of the Holy Monastery of Simon Petra of Mount Athos, in Byron, where evening was performed, in which he officiated.
He also visited the headquarters of the Pediatric Oncology Unit, «Marianna B.. Vardinogianni - HOPE », while the program included a visit to the Museum of "Contemporary Art" of the Vassilios and Eliza Goulandris Foundation, and attended events in his honor by the Theological School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Brotherhood of Officials of the Ecumenical Patriarchate "Panagia Pammakaristos", the Support Foundation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the NGO. Ecumenical Councils, as well as the Municipality of Byron.
Six-day visit to Athens
The Minister of National Defense, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, representing the government, received the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Athens International Airport.. Bartholomew, who arrived from Istanbul on a regular flight, accepting an invitation from the Church of Greece.
The Ecumenical Patriarch will have a series of important meetings with the leadership of the Church of Greece as well as with the political and state leadership of the country.