Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew extols Greek Orthodox, Muslim relations in Thrace

Bartholomew, who is on the last day of a visit that began Saturday, addressed his comments to Iasmos mayor Kadi Ismet and the people who welcomed him at the town's central square.

"I am happy to see that in Thrace you are all working together, jointly, in many sectors and you all want peace, and the honourable Greek State safeguards democratically equality for all its citizens with their special religious and oral traditions," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.

He further said, "Freedom is a requirement for truth and love; oppression is the cancellation of truth," making a passing reference to the experiences of Greeks in Asia Minor and Thrace.

He extolled the Muslim community for their respect of Greek Orthodox priests and the cooperation between the mayor and the Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia in promoting everyone's welfare regardless of religion.

Mayor Kadi Ismet said, "Christians and Muslims live and work together for the common good," and termed Bartholomew "a religious leader of international repute with a spiritual, national, social and philanthropic record" and a special sensitivity to environmental issues.

Bartholomew also paid a visit to the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory of Komotini, in the northern Greek city, and met with Armenian Patriarch Aram I, saying that the churches were separated by "unfortunate historical circumstances" in the 5th century which they are trying to bridge by meeting the last decades.

Patriarch Aram said that they had a long friendship and working in agreement at the World Council of Churches, noting that Greeks and Armenians shared a lot of things. "See, in the same church we have children of the Greek and Armenian people at this time. A church is not the building, it is the people," he said.

Metropolitan Panteleimon, Macedonia-Thrace Minister Giorgos Orfanos, MP Evrypidis Stylianidis and Komotini mayor Giorgos Petridis were also present.

Earlier in the afternoon Bartholomew had paid a visit to Xanthi, where a celebratory liturgy was held in his honour at the Church of Theou Sofias (God's Wisdom).