Prime Minister of Montenegro Visits Ecumenical Patriarchate

On 27 October 2023,His Excellency Dritan Abazovic,Prime Minister of Montenegro,visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate.In the absence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,who was visiting his beloved native island of Imvros,Turkey,where he likes to recover after a busy travel schedule,the Prime Minister was recieved by His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria and other members of the Patriarchal Court.Metropolitan Maximos informed Mr.Abazovic about the initiatives and ministry of the Holy Great Church of Christ in Constantinople.He also distributed commemorative gifts among the Prime Minister and his entourage.As well,His Excellency got a tour of the Patriarchal Church of St.George and its relics,the Patriarchate said in a news release.*Montenegro has a population of 624,484 as of 2023.It was a former Yugoslav republic.The country declared its independence in 2006 and joined NATO in 2017.Most Montenegrins self-identify as Montenegrins,having a strong sense of national identity.They speak a unique Serbo-Croatian dialect called Montenegrin.* The predominant religion of Montenegro is Eastern Orthodoxy (88.7%)-predominantly Serbian Orthodoxy in the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral-with minorities of Muslims,Catholics and Atheists/Agnostics as well.* Montenegro's European Union status is Screened Negotiating Candidacy with possible entry by 2025,providing all outstanding issues are resolved.

Ceremony Reaffirms Enduring Ties Between Jerusalem and Constantinople

Despite the recent belligerence of Moscow,the bonds between the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople were unequivocally reaffirmed as the Ecumenical Patriarchate's foremost lay associate,Mr.Panteleimon Vigkas,was honoured by the Jerusalem Patriarchate at an evening ceremony on 22 October 2018 in its Metochion,or ecclesiastical embassy,on the Bosporus in Istanbul,Turkey.At the Metochion's Church of St.George Neochori,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople invested Mr.Vigkas,who holds the title Archon Chartophilakas of the Great Church of Christ,with the honour Crusader of the Panaghian Tomb,rewarding Mr.Vigkas for his Merit of Mercy to the Holy Sepulchre on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.*
Representing the Jerusalem Patriarchate was His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidona,Greece,Commissioner of the Holy Sepulchre.Patriarch Bartholomew also presided at the Vespers of St.James the Brother of God,First Bishop of Jerusalem,at the Metochion Church that evening.*
Mr.Vigkas is seldom far from Patriarch Bartholomew's side.He serves as President of the Imvros Educational and Cultural Association,which celebrates the heritage of Imvros,Patriarch Bartholomew's  home island,now known as Gokceada,Turkey.