Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitstotakis visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Tuesday evening, Jerusalem Patriarchate reported.
He was accompanied by a group of his associates including Minister of Energy Mr. Kostas Chatzidakis, the Ambassador of Greece in Israel Mr. Sarris, the former Consul General in Jerusalem Mrs. Eleni Sourani and the current Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos and Mrs. Tzima.
Mitsotakis was welcomed at the Gate of the Patriarchate by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem along with Hagiotaphite Fathers, who guided him at the Holy Sepulchre, the Horrendous Golgotha and finally at the Office of the Church of the Resurrection,
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem stated: "The deep bond between our nation and the Holy Sepulchre is proven by the inscription therein, which writes 'those who resurrected the noble and royal Nation of the Rum Orthodox'. Mr. Prime Minister, your visit at the State of Israel and in the Holy City of Jerusalem has a special meaning for the Christians who live herein, and of course for those who live within the territory of the Palestinian Authority and in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan."
"And we say this, because as it is known, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, also know as Rum Orthodox, is the guarantee on the one hand of the Christians’ identity, and on the other, of the threatened Christian character of the Old City of Jerusalem. In its spiritual and ecclesiastical mission, the Patriarchate continues tirelessly its pastoral care throughout the centuries, a care that is not restricted only to the preservation and safekeeping of the holy shrines, monuments, monasteries and Churches, but also to the field of education with especial emphasis in the operation of Schools and other social or charitable foundations. The consequences of the universal crisis of the coronavirus plague are already visible and quite serious. However, the interest of the Greek government and of you personally, Mr. Prime Minister, in practice and in various ways, is doubtless and for granted, therefore we also hope in the consideration of our Patriarchate by you and your Government," His Beatitude continued.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem also presented Kyriakos Mitsotakis a commemorative medal, which was created on the restoration of the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre by the National Technical University of Athens in 2017.
Emotional, the Prime Minister thanked His Beatitude for His kind words. "A visit in Jerusalem without visiting the Holy Sepulchre is without substance,” Mitsotakis said and offered His Beatitude a silver platter in remembrance of his visit.
Concluding, the PM thanked His Beatitude for His address, the presents, and asked His blessing for the success of the mission of the Government with the reassurance that the Greek Government will always be a supporter of the mission of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
*Source and Image Credit: Jerusalem Patriarchate