Greece 's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with Ecumenical Patriach Bartholomew in Athens on Monday to discuss issues concerning FYROM after the latter recently requested its church return and to be accepted under the auspices of the Patriarchate as the Archbishopric of Ohrid.
During their meeting at Maximos Mansion the Greek PM congratulated the Patriarch for his initiatives in highlighting leading environmental protection issues and in the social repercussions of climate change and noted that "the radiance of the Patriarchate and your internationally recognised institutional role contribute to your playing an especially positive role in crucial issues on the international political stage or in critical global issues, such as those of the environment.”
From his end the Ecumenical Patriarch thanked Tsipras for his supportive words and responded on the issue of FYROM by saying it was "within the normal obligations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to try and repeal the schisms wherever they may exist and work towards Orthodox unity and collaboration, as we have done all these years."