Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Markos Bolaris, carried out a two-day visit to Mount Athos. The visit began on Monday 15 October, where the Deputy Minister had the opportunity of exchanging information with the Civil Governor, Konstantinos Dimtsas, on matters pertaining to the functioning of the Civil Administration, its staff and the new building housing it. During the following extraordinary session of the Holy Community, in his address to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Holy First referred to the spiritual presence and contribution of the Monastic Community, spanning over a thousand years, and stressed the need to cooperate with the Greek State to resolve issues pertaining to the State’s exclusive competences. In his reply, the Deputy Minister underscored the Greek Government’s feelings of respect towards Mount Athos and its therein practitioning Fathers, mentioned the special care and vigilant concern of the State and the Greek people for the defence of this unique Monastic Centre of the Orthodox Church and referred to the personal relationship he had as a youth with the great modern intellectual figures who lived as ascetics in Mount Athos. This was followed by briefing and partnering focused on a number of issues of concern to the Monastic Community of Mount Athos, and related both to the competences of the Deputy Minister and those of the jointly responsible Ministries and Services of the Greek State. Agreement was reached on developing synergies and methods for the resolution of outstanding issues concerning the smooth functioning of the Holy Place, so as to highlight the respect, care and concern of the Government and the Greek people for the preservation of Monastic Centre. A pilgrimage visit to the historic Temple of Protaton, in Karyes, followed, where is displayed, enthroned and bearing the seals of the Twenty Monasteries, the prestigious icon of the Virgin Mary "Axion Esti". The Holy Community offered a meal. Later, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the Holy Monastery of Iveron, where he met with the Very Reverend Abbot Archimandrite Nathaniel, and its former Abbot Elder Vasileios, to discuss issues related to Mount Athos. On the afternoon of the same day, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Civil Governor of Mount Athos, visited the Holy Monastery of Mount Athos, Megisti Lavra, ranked first in the hierarchical order. On Tuesday 16 October, after Divine Mass at the Catholic Monastery of Megisti Lavra, the Deputy Minister visited the Monastery of Vatopedi, where the Very Reverend Abbot, Archimandrite Elder Efraim, and the Brotherhood held a reception in his honour. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the continued concern, care and forethought of the Greek Government for the defence and fulfilling of the needs of the self-governing Monastic State of Athos, and conveyed the good wishes and warm greetings of the country’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
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