At noon on Friday, September 13, 2013, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Mäntyniemi Presidential Palace, where he was received by His Excellency Suali Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, who bestowed all honors foreseen according to protocol upon the Patriarch. During the meeting, which was attended by Their Eminences Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland, as well as the Metropolitans Stephanos of Tallinn and Estonia, Geron Athanasios of Chalcedon, Methodios of Boston, and Ambrosius of Helsinki, the President welcomed the Patriarch with a warm address, emphasizing that this new Patriarchal visit to his country is a special honor for all Fins.

In response, His All-Holiness expressed to the President the gratitude of the Mother Church and of himself personally for the honorable reception, which reveals the respect on the part of the Finnish State to the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Moreover, the Patriarch expressed both his thanks to the political and state authorities of Finland for their clear and praiseworthy support toward the recognized local Orthodox Church, as well as his admiration for the contemporary achievements of the Finnish society, which are evident in the exemplary way in which the educational system functions and in social benefits provided by the country with regard to healthcare and insurance. The Patriarch also replied to questions by the President about the situation at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey and Inter-Orthodox relations.

Prior to the conclusion of the encounter, gifts were exchanged between the President and the Patriarch.

From there, with his venerable entourage, His All-Holiness paid a courtesy visit to the Turkish Embassy in Finland, where His Excellency Ambassador H. Selah Korutürk offered a luncheon in his honor. The Patriarch responded appropriately to the gracious toast of the host.

Afterward, the Patriarch and his entourage proceeded to the International Airport of Helsinki, where he departed for Istanbul by private plane. He was honorably escorted by His Eminence Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland, together with his Hierarchy and Clergy, as well as by His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia and His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador.

Thus ended the ten-day visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to the European North on the occasion of the 90th anniversaries of the autonomy bestowed on the Churches of Finland and Estonia, both of which are thriving and progressing to this day with the maternal care and canonical protection of the First-Throne Church in the Orthodox world, the Mother Church of Constantinople.