His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Zagreb
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Zagreb, the capital of the Republic of Croatia, today, on 9 September 2016.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Their Graces Bishops: Irinej of Backa and Jovan of Slavonia, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece to Zagreb Mrs. Eleni Gerokostopoulou at the runway of the Zagreb airport.
His All-Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, deacon Andrew and Mr. Peter Sofianopoulos.
At the VIP lounge of the Zagreb International Airport, His All-Holiness Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew addressed numerous media representatives, and expressed his deepest gratitude for having an honour to be in the canonical territory of the sister Serbian Orthodox Church: - I warmly express gratitude to His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, for his invitation to visit dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia, Patriarch Bartholomew said and recalled that almost less than two months before he had been with the Serbian Patriarch on the island of Crete at the Great and Holy Assembly of the Orthodox Church.
The reason for my arrival in Croatia is a desire that we all honor the victims of the Second World War. Cultural and civilizational level of each country and nation is measured by its stance towards ancestors and especially towards those who have suffered martyrdom serving their country. The Bible teaches us to rejoice when others rejoice and weep when others weep. Among the Orthodox Churches there is closeness, both in joy and in sorrow.
Coming from Constantinople to Croatia, I bring fraternal greetings and blessings to all Orthodox believers, Patriarch Bartholomew said and expressed deep gratitude to Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece for their welcome. His All-Holiness especially thanked to many media representatives for diligent covering. - May God bless this country Croatia and the Serbian Orthodox Church wherever she has its own jurisdiction.
Nenad Stikovic
