Greek Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Sophia Zacharaki, visited the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul today, where she was received by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Accompanied by the Secretary-General for Religious Affairs, George Kalantzis, and the Greek Consul General, Konstantinos Koutras, Minister Zacharaki expressed her deep honor in being at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and thanked the Patriarch for his warm welcome. “The visit and discussion with His All-Holiness are always a source of hope, optimism, and spiritual strength,” she stated.

“I came to the Phanar with great respect following my appointment as Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports to exchange views on significant issues of common interest, such as education. The Greek government has ensured the upcoming hiring of 600 new priests for Orthodox Patriarchates. Additionally, for the first time this year, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, appointed teachers arrived earlier than ever at schools in Istanbul and Imbros. We fully support the work of educators and the students’ passion for the Greek language. During my brief stay here, I will have the joy and honor of meeting the Education Coordinator, Mrs. Vourdoglou, as well as young students and their parents to discuss how our Ministry can further support them.”

Minister Zacharaki and the Greek delegation visited the revered Patriarchal Church, where they learned about its history and sacred relics.

At noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch hosted an official luncheon in honor of the Minister.

Meeting with Greek Students and Educators at the Consulate

Earlier in the morning, Minister Zacharaki visited the Greek Consulate in Istanbul, where she met with students and educators from Greek schools participating in the 2nd Student Environmental Conference titled “Istanbul–Thessaloniki: An Educational Coexistence – Citizens of the City, Greeks of the World.” The conference is being held at the historic Zografeion Lyceum and will conclude on March 30.

The Minister engaged in discussions and took photos with students and teachers from schools in Thessaloniki, Larissa, Naousa, Xanthi, Agios Efstratios, and Siteia, who had the opportunity to visit the Consulate, where the exhibition “Greek Heads: A Personal Exploration of Greek History and Culture Over 2,500 Years” is currently on display.

Zacharaki reassured parents that all necessary security measures have been taken for the students’ visit and participation in the Environmental Conference under the supervision of the Greek Consulate, which remains available for any inquiries to ensure peace of mind.