wfn.org | Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dedicates Havana Cathedral

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
January 29, 2004

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS ACCOMPANIES ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON
HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA

New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek
Orthodox Church in America, was invited by His All Holiness Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew to accompany him on his historic visit to Cuba, which
took place January 21-25.  During this special occasion, His Eminence
attended the consecration of the newly constructed Greek Orthodox Cathedral
of  St. Nicholas, which took place in Havana.  Cuban President Fidel Castro
also was present at the service, where he presented Patriarch Bartholomew
with a symbolic key to the newly consecrated cathedral.

On the occasion of the Patriarchal visit, and in honor of the Archbishop of
America, the U.S. Interests Section Chief in Havana, Cuba, James Cason,
organized a reception during which the Archbishop had the opportunity to
meet with Cuban dissidents and to discuss important humanitarian concerns
with them.  During their meeting with the Archbishop, the dissidents
presented a number of papers on human rights issues, which in turn were
conveyed to His All Holiness, the Patriarch.

While in Havana, in addition to numerous meetings with local government
officials, the Patriarch also visited a children's hospital and a school
for children with special needs, giving small crosses to the children as a
blessing related to his visit.	As a blessing to the people of Cuba, who
built the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Patriarch also gave President
Fidel Castro a simple cross.  Likewise, Fidel Castro presented Patriarch
Bartholomew with a jeweled cross in recognition of his historic visit to
the island nation.

The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Cuba was his first visit ever to
Latin America.	His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual
leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians.	He is the 270th
successor to the Apostle St. Andrew.

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