STAVROS DIMAS: We had a very interesting and substantial meeting. We exchanged certain thoughts and views on the Church’s relations throughout the Middle East and the role the Greek Orthodox Church plays in this region, given the instability we see and the problems that Orthodox Churches in the region are facing. We also talked about the challenges facing Greek society and the Church’s role and substantial assistance in confronting the crisis. I assured the Archbishop that the government and the Foreign Ministry, on issues within its responsibility, will stand by him.
ARCHBISHOP HIERONYMOS: And I, with much pleasure, would like to state that our talk with the Minister was very substantial today, and I am particularly glad to have him and his associates here. It was a good opportunity, given that I just returned from Cyprus, and one issue that we talked about there, as well, and which we are very concerned about, is the positions of Christians in the Mediterranean basin and the countries where they are undergoing ordeals. Then we talked about our issues here, our Church, and particularly issues of poverty, the difficulties of many people and our obligation to work together – the Church and the State – to provide relief for these people, particularly the vulnerable groups. We also wished each other happy holidays, after which we will have something more to talk about with the Minister.
STAVROS DIMAS: Happy holidays.
December 19, 2011