Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Theodoros Karaoglou in Constantinople and discussed the Patriarch’s forthcoming visit to Thessaloniki and the Mount Athos on October 19-22.
The deputy minister attended the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Phocas in Mesaschorion.
Theodoros Karaoglou briefed the Patriarch on the interventions carried out towards the economic growth and development of northern Greece, setting out in detail the actions that the Ministry takes to attract investments in Macedonia and Thrace, with the ultimate goal of creating new and sustainable jobs.
At the same time, he invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to visit the Government House in Thessaloniki, which now houses the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.
“I feel really blessed that the Ecumenical Patriarch received me at the Centre of Orthodoxy, and I want to express my admiration and appreciation for the excellent work he is carrying out. His example is full of love, patience and sacrifice. We exchanged views on the optimistic prospects for the Greek economy, on the necessity of reopening the Halki seminary as well as on the Greek-Turkish relations,” said the deputy minister.