Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at Kavala on Friday for a three-day official visit to Serres and Nigrita, northern Greece.

He briefly met with the mayor of Kavala and expressed support for the ancient site of Philippoi’s bid to enter the world cultural heritage monuments. The Ministry of Culture states that the ancient city of Philippoi is the most significant site in Eastern Macedonia. Founded in 360 BC as Krinides, it was renamed as Philippoi by King Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.