With the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. The President of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, who is in Constantinople, met Bartholomew on Sunday afternoon at Fanari.

“I wish you all God’s good in the new year for you personally as now the leader of the official opposition, for which I congratulate you in particular and all God’s good for your family, for your faction and for all the pious Greek people” said the Ecumenical Patriarch, warmly welcoming Mr. Androulakis, who for the third year in a row visits the Fanari for the Feast of the Epiphany.

For his part, the President of PASOK-Movement for Change noted:We are very honored by your hospitality. I wish you 2025 a year of health and prosperity. Millions of Orthodox Christians around the world are inspired and strengthened by your words and works. Really, I wish you to be strong, because you are an inspiration to all of us».

Referring to the death of the former Prime Minister and former President of PASOK Kostas Simitis, Mr. Androulakis pointed out that “today is a difficult day for us, PASOK and the Greek people. One of the greatest Greeks, Kostas Simitis, has passed away, whose work left a strong imprint: the powerful modern and European Greece. With the infrastructures, the competitive economy, the strong welfare state, strong institutions and independent authorities as well as of course the great national success of Cyprus’s accession to the EU. with the Cypriot issue unresolved. His work will be our compass for the future».

The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his sympathy for the death of the former Prime Minister, who, as he said, “offered a lot to Greece as a worthy political man. He put Greece in the Eurozone, supported Turkey’s entry into the EU, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate wants and wishes for, and generally contributed a lot to the development of Greece.” In fact, he remembered with emotion their meeting years ago at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.