Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis represented the Greek government, in Istanbul, at the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy of the Epiphany, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and at the Blessing of the Waters, at the Golden Horn Gulf.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Amanatidis stated:
"I am pleased to be at this great celebration of Orthodoxy at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and by the side of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a spiritual beacon. Patriarch Bartholomew promotes the message of love and tolerance. How timely in the days in which we live!
The message of the day is that the light has defeated the darkness and love has defeated hatred. Of course, at this time we are under a cloud of innocent victims who have fallen to terrorism, which we must face together. I express our deep condolences.
The message we are sending is a message of hope. Religious fanaticism cannot be the solution in any case. We promote intercultural and interreligious cooperation."
January 6, 2017