Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis held a telephone conversation with his Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem on Monday, reaffirming the Greek government’s support for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its role in protecting Christian communities across the Middle East.
FM George Gerapetritis held a telephone conversation with His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, as part of their regular contacts. https://t.co/YWz2kEYB3c
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) October 12, 2026
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The call was part of regular consultations between the two, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said they had reaffirmed the close relationship between the Greek government and the Patriarchate. The ministry also emphasized the institution’s importance in safeguarding Christian communities throughout the region.
The conversation follows a visit by Patriarch Theophilos III, formally the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, to Athens in June, when Gerapetritis pledged continued Greek support for the Patriarchate and the other ancient Orthodox patriarchates. Speaking at an official luncheon in the patriarch’s honor, Gerapetritis described the visit as a blessing of profound spiritual significance for Greece and Greeks worldwide. He said defending the Patriarchate’s rights was a responsibility shared by the broader Greek community. The foreign minister had also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving the longstanding arrangements governing Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, known as the Status Quo, as well as protecting the city’s distinctive religious character. At the time, Gerapetritis acknowledged the prolonged crisis and escalating conflicts in the Middle East, pledging that the Greek government would continue to support the Patriarchate and its faithful while working toward peace in the region.
During the June visit, he also announced that he and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni had signed a memorandum of strategic importance for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Gerapetritis further outlined plans to introduce legislation supporting Greek Orthodox clergy serving communities abroad. The proposed framework would provide institutional assistance to the ancient Orthodox patriarchates through the Church of Greece while respecting their independence.