On Tuesday, December 13, President of Romania Traian Badescu was received by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Phanar. The Romanian President was welcomed by the Patriarchal court at the entrance of the Patriarchate, headed by Metropolitan Stefanos of Kallipolis and Madytos.
Next, the President paid homage to the Patriarchal church of St. George and after he was given a tour, he met with Patriarch Bartholomew in his office. The President was escorted by the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Baconschi, and the Romanian Ambassador in Ankara, Radou Onofrei and other officials.
During the friendly meeting between the President and the Patriarch, issues of pan – orthodox interest, the good relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Patriarchate of Romania and the Romanian State, the European perspective of Turkey, minority rights and more, were discussed.
They also discussed the issue of collaboration between the State and the Orthodox Church, with a view to the benefit of the people. Moreover, the Patriarch did not omit to mention the fact that all Orthodox faithful are part of the one Pan-Orthodox family, regardless of ethnic origin.
At the end of the meeting, the Romanian President stated that “it was an excellent visit and a friendly meeting, as we’ve known each other for a long time. At the same time, it was a visit to pay homage to the Ecumenical Patriarch”.
The Romanian President visited the Head of Orthodoxy in Phanar in 2005 and the Patriarch had meetings with him in Romania.
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