top

Athens News Agency - July 13, 1999

Spyridon leaves for US today following talks with Patriarch

ISTANBUL, 13/07/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Archbishop of America Spyridon will depart for the United States today, following his meeting yesterday at the Patriarchate with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, a meeting that focused squarely on the leadership issue that has surfaced at the Archdiocese of America in recent months.

Spyridon announced after the talks that he was satisfied at their outcome, and that he will return to Istanbul in August to "complete the discussion".

Meanwhile, the Patriarch yesterday also received a Greek foreign ministry delegation, shortly before the group departed for Athens.

Greek officials, headed by ambassador Stylianos Valsamas-Rallis, had set out certain ideas to the Patriarch and members of the Holy Synod on Sunday concerning ways of strengthening cooperation between Athens, the Archdiocese of America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

According to sources, the Greek government has decided not to become involved in issues constituting the exclusive domain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod.

[ Athens News Agency - July 13, 1999 ]