Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos Gerontopoulos met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch on Wednesday, 23 October, the second day of his official visit to Lebanon. The main subjects of their talks included the issue of the two abducted Bishops of Aleppo, the problems being faced by Christians in the region due to the crisis in Syria, and Orthodoxy’s role in the Middle East.
Mr. Gerontopoulos stressed to the Patriarch of Antioch that the Greek government’s efforts to locate the two abducted Bishops have continued unabated, noting that he had also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon. He also underscored that Greece supports the Patriarchate of Antioch’s efforts aimed at the survival of Christianity and Orthodoxy in a difficult region and at this difficult time.
Following their talks, Mr. Gerontopoulos stressed to Lebanese journalists that “the Patriarchate of Antioch plays a very important role not just in the Middle East, but throughout the world. We Christians want there to be peace in the region and cooperation amongst everyone, so that the problems can be overcome. We support the Patriarch’s efforts because we consider him a vital beacon of Christianity. Greece is making efforts to help peace and justice prevail in this region of the Middle East. I want to stress the Greek government’s intense interest in the abducted Bishops. We discussed this issue with His Beatitude, as well as with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, with whom I met. I told him that our interest in locating the Bishops remains unabated, and I asked that the Lebanese government help in this direction. He promised me that he will do everything in his power to find them. I repeat that this is one of the most important policy issues for the Greek government.”
Mr. Gerontopoulos was also taken on a guided tour of the Holy Monastery of Balamand. He visited the Seminary of Saint John of Damascus and the University of Balamand, and he exchanged views with the president of the University on the role of higher education in the country’s progress and development.
Finally, on Thursday morning Mr. Gerontopoulos visited the Greek Orthodox Hospital of Beirut – “Saint George” – and talked with the administration and hospital staff.
October 24, 2013