Head of Phanar celebrates Turkish Republic’s anniversary with Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pat. Bartholomew celebrate the anniversary of the Turkish Republic. Photo: Vema

On 29 October 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew, together with President Recep Erdogan, began celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in Turkey, reports Vema.

The head of the Phanar first visited Ankara, where he celebrated the anniversary with Erdogan at a reception at the Presidential Palace.

On the morning of October 30, Bartholomew went together with Turkey’s President to Istanbul, where in the Sultan's pavilion Vahdettin Köşku attended a rich festive programme, listened to the President's speech and had dinner in a narrow circle of officials.

In July 2020, Erdogan turned the Hagia Sophia into a functioning mosque. In response, Patriarch Bartholomew said that the President’s decision upset him.

Read also

DESS congratulates Ukrainians on Passover

DESS has published an address in which it compared the biblical Exodus with the modern path of the people toward freedom and peace.

Amsterdam: Zelensky attacks UOC because he doesn't tolerate idependent thought

An international human rights defender stated that the Kyiv authorities are pursuing the goal of turning religion into a government department.

In Jerusalem, Jewish believers banned from visiting Western Wall during Passover

Israeli police announced restrictions for Jewish holidays.

OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death

The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.

UOC primate blesses vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the front

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of blessing for nine vehicles purchased with donations from faithful in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv

The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.