Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is in Imbro today on Good Friday, where he will take part in the epitaph service of Lamentation and the epitaph procession at the Holy Church of Evangelistria of Agridia, led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

“For me, as a representative of the Hellenic Republic, it is a great joy and a great honor to be here today in Imbros,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs upon arrival on the island and visiting the Holy Metropolis of Imbros and Tenedos. , where he was received by Metropolitan Cyril of Imbros and Tenedu.

“In the context of our possibilities, in the context of our strengths, there will always be a place in our hearts for the Hellenism of Imbros. Know also that we will always support him,” Nikos Dendias emphasized and added: “After extreme humiliation and the Crucifixion, the Resurrection always follows. I’m happy that God deserves me to be here with you today.”

“This is a historic moment when the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece stands before the epitaph of Imvru and embraces the dead Christ with the expectation of the certainty of the Resurrection,” said Metropolitan Kirill of Imvru and Tenedou.

“This is how we live,” he said. “It may be Good Friday most of the time, but the joy of the Resurrection is what covers every pain, every bitterness, every difficulty, and feeds us with life for continuity, presence, and march.”

The Metropolitan presented the Minister of Foreign Affairs with a white rose from the epitaph, as well as from the Imvros garden.

Meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also held a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who once every 10 years goes to Imbro’s homeland during the Easter holiday.

“I express as Imbrian, on behalf of all Imbrians and Tenedians, since we are inseparable and homeopathic, I express on behalf of all our joy, our emotions, and also our gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, who, amidst the multitude and his heavy duties, he found the opportunity , time and readiness to visit our country, even if only for a few hours, to strengthen the few remaining expatriates,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said at the beginning of the meeting. .

“I take this opportunity to praise his positive attitude towards the Greek-Turkish language. Just the day before yesterday, we heard in his interview to the ERT TV channel how much he is interested and cares about the good neighborliness of the Greeks and Turks.”

After that, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will travel to the village of Agii Theodori, where he will visit the Imvrou kindergarten and primary school, as well as meet with expatriate and expatriate organizations.

Then he will go to the village of Agridia, where he will observe the service of the Shroud and the procession of the Shroud to the Holy Church of the Agridian Evangelistria, which will be headed by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Finally, he will sit down to dinner with the Ecumenical Patriarch and Metropolitan of Imbros and Tenedos, the Foreign Ministry said.

Source: RES