On the morning of Monday, October 30, 2017, following the formal invitation of His Excellency Professor Nikos Kotzias, the Hellenic Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, His All-Holiness departed for Athens in order to speak at the 2nd International Conference of Athens for Religious and Cultural Pluralism and for Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East. Among the officials attending the conference, under the chairmanship of Mr. Kotzias, are politicians, as well as diplomatic and religious representatives from various countries.
During Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the capital of Greece, in addition to meeting with Their Beatitudes the Heads of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches present at the conference, he will also bless in person the 1st Annual Gathering of Imbrian Youth at the Society’s main location in New Smyrna.
The Patriarchal delegation consists of His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydoniai, the Very Rev. Grand Archdeacon Theodore, and the esteemed Mr. Themistokles Karanikolas, an employee of the Patriarchate.
The Ecumenical Patriarch will return to the Phanar on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 1st. In his absence, His Eminence Metropolitan Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos will serve as the Patriarchal Vicar.
