Deputy FM Kyriakos Gerontopoulos met today with Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, at the Archdiocese headquarters. Mr. Gerontopoulos referred to his upcoming trip to Lebanon and underscored to His Beatitude the importance Greece attaches to the Ancient Orthodox Patriarchates. He also briefed the Archbishop on his meeting with Patriarch John of Antioch and the other meetings he has scheduled for the coming time with the Primates of Orthodox Churches.
Following the meeting, Mr. Gerontopoulos stated that “I came to hear the invaluable opinion of the Archbishop, whom I plan to report to anew following my trips and meetings. Our Church is important to Hellenism, and the Ancient Patriarchates constitute the ‘forward outpost’ of Christianity and Hellenism. This is why we will do whatever is in our power to find out what their needs are and help in any way we can.”
The Archbishop, having expressed his satisfaction at the Deputy Foreign Minister’s initiative, pointed out that “such meetings are an opportunity not just to exchange invaluable opinions, but also for the State to see first-hand the positions and concerns of the Church for the good of Hellenism and of Christianity.
October 21, 2013