wfn.org | Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits United States

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                    GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
March 4, 2002
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos
c- 917-903-1255
Web site: www.goarch.org/usvisit2002

  His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Arrives at Andrews Air
                                 Force Base
                         for Visit to United States

Washington, D.C. ? His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,
spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, arrived
today at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. for a six-day visit to
the United States.  He was welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios,
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America:  Lawrence Dunham,
Assistant Chief of Protocol for the Department of State: Senator Paul S.
Sarbanes, US Senator of Maryland: Andrew Natsios, Administrator for the US
Agency for International Development (USAID) who welcomed the Ecumenical
Patriarch on behalf of President George Bush: Minister Eleftherios
Anghelopoulos, Embassy of Greece: Deputy Archilleas Antoniades, Embassy of
Cyprus: Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council: Dr.
Anthony Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew:  Andrew
Banis, Supreme President of the Order of AHEPA and area clergy,laity and
their families.

Offering comments at a short welcoming ceremony were Mr. Dunham, Senator
Sarbanes, Mr. Natsios, and Archbishop Demetrios.  In his remarks, His
Eminence stated, "Welcome once again to this land of the free and home of
the brave, which is America."

In response, His All Holiness said, "Since we are visiting the United
States for the first time since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we
take this opportunity to express once again our deepest pain and our
sympathy for the victims, and our support for their families. Every
rational person condemns unconditionally these criminal terrorist acts
especially when they affect innocent and defenseless citizens. May this
tragic and hideous event be the last in the history of mankind."

Tomorrow, March 5, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is scheduled to meet
with President George W. Bush at 3:25 pm and Secretary of State Colin
Powell at 11:00 am.  Ambassador of Turkey to the United States Osman Faruk
Logloglu will host his All Holiness at a meeting and luncheon at the
Turkish Embassy.

Video Highlights of the 2002 Visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew are available through satellite feeds during the week.  For
detail please visit www.goarch.org/usvisit2002.  Click on For the Media.

For more information on satellite video feeds please call c- 904-571-5692.