Kalafatis to Ecumenical Patriarch: In the difficult days of our neighborhood we need your voice

Him Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, Stavros Kalafatisvisited the Governor’s Office Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and discussed recent developments in very important ecclesiastical and social issuesled by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Mr. Kalafatis informed Mr. Bartholomew about the new phase of development and recovery in which Thessaloniki is entering, but also the whole of Macedonia and Thrace.

«“The government and the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, from the first day of taking over the government of the country, have shown that interest and cooperation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate are issues of the highest priority,” said the Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, addressing the Ecumenical Patriarch. He continued: “It is a great honor and we are particularly pleased with your visit to the Headquarters and the Macedonia – Thrace Sector of the Ministry of Interior.

Your Holiness, in Thessaloniki and Macedonia we do not see you as a guest, but as the true host! Welcome home. In the difficult days that our neighborhood is going through, your voice, the voice of Christianity, of love, of tranquility, is never necessary, never useful. Your work is necessary, which you have offered on many levels, always guided by Christ, Light, Love and Truth. We feel excited to welcome you here, from the bottom of our hearts, realizing that your presence will be a sanctification for our souls, but also a message of love and unity.».

«During these two days that I am in Thessaloniki I had the opportunity to be with you at various events and to hear the visions and plans that you have for Thessaloniki and for the wider area of ​​your responsibility and I boasted of the breadth of your horizons and your determination. to work for the common good of the citizens of your region “, pointed out Mr. Bartholomew. “We have known each other for many years. We have common ecological interests, since you had another portfolio, and I believe that your position is next to the Church and I believe that you will cooperate, and you do, with the metropolitans of the area of ​​your responsibility. “Everyone recognizes and appreciates you as a religious person, you place the services of your office in the service of the Church and I, as Patriarch, thank you very much for that”, noted the Ecumenical Patriarch and added: “This place is very well known to me, I have visit here many of your predecessors to honor, bless, better, on behalf of the Mother Church the supreme lord here in Thessaloniki, who represents here the Greek government, and to convey the affection of the Mother Church to the children of Northern Greece, who are children of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we are all children of the Ecumenical Patriarchate».

He stressed that he is leaving shortly for Mount Athos with the best impressions from this visit to Thessaloniki and with grateful feelings.

The Ecumenical Patriarch offered to Mr. Kalafatis a silver buckle and the Undersecretary of Macedonia and Thrace offered Mr. Bartholomew a copy of the Cross painted by the Florentine painter Chimabue, the original of which is kept in the temple of San Lorenzo.

Upon his arrival at YMATH, Mr. Bartholomew was welcomed by Mr. Kalafatis and the head of the Office of the Prime Minister in Thessaloniki, Maria Antoniou.

Immediately after the meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace went to the renovated building of KEDAK (Mount Athos Heritage Preservation Center) located at 7 Praxitelous and Zaimi Street, in the area of ​​Faliro, where the libraries of “Byzantine Universe”. The inauguration was performed by the Ecumenical Patriarch.

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