US Assistant Secretary of State Received at the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On 19 November 2021,the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,Ms.Karen Donfried,was received at the Ecumenical Patriarchate's compound in Constantinople,the Phanar,according to a Patriarchate press release.She was welcomed with great honour by the Great Chancellor of the Patriarchate,Theodoros,flanked by other clergy of the Patriarchal Court.Accompanying Ms.Donfried were the US Ambassador to Ankara,His Excellency Mr.David Satterfield;the US Consul General Ms.Daria Darnell;and other US diplomats.* In a cordial meeting with His All-Holiness Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew,the distinguished guests discussed issues related to the life and ministry of the Mother Church,both in Constantinople and in the world at large,including the situation of the remaining Greeks in Constantinople and of the other Orthodox Christians living in Turkey.Patriarch Bartholomew also mentioned his recent extensive visit to the US,expressing his satisfaction with the warm welcome he received there and the contacts he made,such as with the Mayor-Elect of New York Mr.Eric Adams and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Attending the meeting on behalf of the Patriarchate were His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon,as well as the Great Chancellor Theodoros.Following the meeting,Father Theodoros gave the visitors a tour of the Patriarchal Church of St.George,recounting its history and pointing out the holy relics of the church.