Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Markos Bolaris, met today with His Eminence Metropolitan of Arcadia, Mr Basileos, from the Greek Orthodox Primatial Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. During the meeting, which took place in a very warm and cordial atmosphere, His Eminence referred in detail to the problems and challenges faced by the Greek Orthodox of his province, which stretches from Lebanon to Syria, the deep and long-lasting love they have for Greece, and the possibilities of cooperation which can flourish on the basis of the local Church. Mr Bolaris, for his part, stressed that the Orthodox Christians in the Eastern Mediterranean are a key part of the united tradition of “Romiosini” (Hellenic Identity), which unceasingly creates culture and values of a universal character. He pointed out the need to further cultivate religious and cultural ties with the Greek centre, in particular around the development of the Greek language, the cooperation of theological schools and the exchange of students through scholarship programs. Finally, he referred to the Greek government's willingness to help by every means the populations affected by the ongoing civil war so that they can remain in their ancestral homes.
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