The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, on Friday received the visiting Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, as well as the Mayor of the Bosporus metropolis, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has shot to the political limelight in Turkey as a rival to authoritarian Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The two mayors arrived at the Patriarchate’s Fanar-district seat.
Both men will later meet at the Town Hall to sign a memorandum of understanding, with the popular İmamoğlu then giving Bakoyannis a guided tour of some of the ancient city’s best-known sites.
Kostas Bakoyannis will then be guided to the sights of Constantinople by Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Earlier, the Athens mayor, who is a nephew of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said the mayoral presence at the Ecumenical Patriarchate sends a strong message.
“Our common presence here sends a strong message and has much symbolism. The seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is non-negotiable. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is an ark of love and hope for all. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is building bridges and tearing down walls.”
