Fanar: Visit of State Dept head is a source of joy and honor for our Church
Mike Pompeo and Elpidophoros, head of the Phanar Archdiocese of America. Photo: twitter.com/Elpidophoros
On Tuesday, November 17, the Secretary of State of the United States of America Mark Pompeo will visit the see of the Patriarchate of Constantinople "on his own initiative", the official website of Phanar reports.
Istanbul called the visit of the US Secretary of State "a source of joy and honor for the Mother Church".
“Such visits demonstrate the significance and status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution with a long history, which makes an invaluable contribution to global civilization,” says the communiqué of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The visits of US Secretaries of State to Phanar have become almost a tradition. Istanbul recalled that in the past, the Patriarchate of Constantinople was visited by the heads of the US Department of State Madeleine Albright, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton.
Mike Pompeo will discuss "issues of fundamental rights and religious freedom" with Patriarch Bartholomew.
The Phanar expressed its satisfaction and gratitude to the Secretary of State for including a visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople in his schedule. Pompeo's visit to the Middle East will last for ten days.
As the UOJ reported, the US Secretary of State also intends to meet with the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Read also
OCU thanks Novovolynsk mayor for transporting people to Dumenko's "service"
Supporters of the OCU sent gratitude to Mayor Borys Karpus for providing transportation to the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy comments on seizure in Kuzmyn
The seizure of the UOC church in Kuzmyn was based on forged documents about changing jurisdiction to the OCU.
Restoration of St Florus Convent: Former KCSA official reported suspicion
A former deputy general director of the Kyiv Scientific and Methodological Center for the Protection and Restoration of Monuments is suspected of embezzling 660 thousand hryvnias of budget funds.
Meeting of UOC Synodal Commission on canonization held in Kyiv
A meeting of the Synodal Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, dedicated to the consideration of issues related to canonization, was held at the Presentation (Vvedensky) Monastery in Kyiv.
Archaeologists uncover 4th-century Christian church complex near Rome
In the ancient port city of Ostia near Rome, archaeologists have uncovered a large early Christian complex with a church and bishop's palace dating back to the 4th century.
Vance praises Georgian patriarch's work
The U.S. vice president spoke positively about the role of the primate of the Georgian Church in preserving Christian values in the country.