Eastern and Western Christianity have never opposed each other in Hungary, but have always respected and recognized each other - stressed Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén during his meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartolomaios I, according to the recording of the current channel M1.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in 2000, the Universal Patriarchate of Constantinople recognized King St. Stephen as a saint, since the great schism of 1054, the founding monarch is the first joint saint of East and West.
"Hungary will never forget this gift to the Universal Patriarchate of Constantinople, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, and we will never forget the wealth and faith we received from Constantinople after the conquest"
- said Zsolt Semjén.
Bartholomew I said at the meeting that the Hungarian state and the universal patriarchate are very closely connected: "King Saint István unites us".
He recalled that approximately 20 years ago, he personally brought to Hungary the official document that included King István I among the saints of the East.
He also said that he is happy to see Pope Francis again in the next few days, with whom he has a very close and friendly relationship.
In our opening photo, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén receives Bartholomaios I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who arrived for the International Eucharistic Congress, in the Carmelite Monastery on September 10, 2021. MTI/Prime Ministership/Gergely Botár
