CONSTANTINOPLE – The Minister of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece, Niki Kerameus, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate and was welcomed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the members of the Holy Synod.

The Patriarch noted that “the education of the Omogenia has always been one of the main interests of the Great Church of Christ, which is always interested in both the schools and the young people, who study here in Constantinople, the Queen of Cities, and the wider area under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

The Patriarch was also pleased with the minister’s visit to the Greek schools of Constantinople and to the Theological School of Halki.

Patriarch Bartholomew said to minister Kerameus “we wish you all the best in your duties. We are sure that you will not disappoint the Greek people; on the contrary, you will give a new impetus to schools, to youth, to education. With our prayers and our love, we will always be by your side.”

The minister said it was a great honor to be at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and thanked the Patriarch for the warm welcome. She also had a special opportunity to have discussions with the Patriarch and the Synodic hierarchs and mentioned that she had visited the Zografeion Lyceum and the Zappeion School. She assured the Patriarch that these schools would be supported and said to him, “thank you very much for this opportunity. It is a great honor to visit the Phanar and we look forward to an excellent collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”