wfn.org | ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS VISITS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE AND ATHENS

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: 
(212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
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> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS VISITS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE AND ATHENS

NEW YORK ? Archbishop Demetrios of America made a five-day trip to 
Constantinople and Athens. He arrived in Phanar on Friday, April 23 ? the feast 
of the St. George the Trophybearer ? in order for his visit to coincide with 
the visit of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem to the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The next day, the Archbishop was present at the official welcome of the 
Patriarch of Jerusalem and his delegation of Hierarchs and clergy who had come 
from the Holy Land for the re-opening of the Jerusalem Patriarchal Metochion of 
St. George in Neochori. After the formal reception of His Beatitude, the 
Archbishop participated in a meeting with the two Patriarchs and other 
Hierarchs aiming at a final resolution of pending issues related to the 
Palestinian-Jordanian communities in the United States, which concluded 
successfully.

On Sunday, April 25, the Archbishop attended the Divine Liturgy with His All 
Holiness. The Liturgy was celebrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and his 
synodia in the Metochion of St. George. In the afternoon, Ecumenical Patriarch 
Bartholomew in  a special meeting with the Archbishop reviewed the arrangements 
for the forthcoming Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America.

The next day, the Archbishop traveled to Athens. On Tuesday April 26, the 
Archbishop visited in succession His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens 
and All Greece, Prime Minister George Papandreou, Alternate Minister of Foreign 
Affairs Dimitris Droutsas, and Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol Ambassador 
Aikaterini Boura (formerly the Consul General in New York). In all the above 
cases the Archbishop had substantive discussions concerning Greece and the 
Omogeneia in the U.S. The Archbishop, during the same day, also had two 
meetings with the advance teams that prepare Ionian Village for the summer 
sessions.

Upon his arrival in New York yesterday, Archbishop Demetrios was informed about 
some false reports in the Media referring to information of a supposed 
resignation. His Eminence stated categorically that the reports were baseless 
and patently false. The Archbishop further added that there is no discussion 
about any resignation whatsoever. He said that he is looking forward in the 
coming years to the continuation of the sacred and vital mission and work of 
the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with the same faith, zeal, 
methodical planning and love, especially in view of the difficulties 
confronting our contemporary world.

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