The Universal Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I has arrived in Hungary, where he will participate in a conference and also meet with the clergy of the Austrian Metropolis and the Hungarian Orthodox Exarchate.

Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and Archbishop T. Cirill Hortobágyi of Pannonhalmi received him at the airport on Wednesday afternoon. The patriarch, who was invited by the Pannonhalmi Archabbey, will be in Hungary for six days. As an Orthodox church leader, the focus of his visit is ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and the building of peace, the Pannonhalmi Archabbey and the Universal Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Orthodox Exarchate of Hungary told MTI.

Among other things, the high priest will participate in Friday's Search for peace and follow it! at an international ecumenical conference at the Bencés Gimnázium in Pannonhalm, then on Saturday he will meet with the clergy of the Austrian Metropolis and the Hungarian Orthodox Exarchate. He also visits the Benedictine Szent Mauricius Monastery in Bakonybél, on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of St. Gellért's arrival in Bakonybél and the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Benedictine monastery.

On Sunday, he will participate in the Divine Liturgy at the St. Martin's Basilica in Pannonhalm, which will be held under the chairmanship of the patriarch, who will also visit the Ukrainian community in Budapest that evening.

On Monday, the last day of his visit, he will take part in the Together for the Common Home - ecumenical and interfaith creation protection conference organized by Pázmány Péter Catholic University and the National University of Public Service, and then he will meet with representatives of Hungarian public life.

Patriarch Bartholomaios I last visited Hungary in September 2021, when he participated in the closing mass of the International Eucharistic Congress, the so-called Statio Orbison, which was presented by Pope Francis in Heroes Square. This was the first time that the leader of the Western and Eastern Churches was present in Hungary at the same time.

Emphasizing the importance of the visit, the statement also pointed out that before the foundation of the state, the ancient Universal Patriarchate of Constantinople had already maintained relations with the Hungarians, sending Bishop St. Hierotheosz to the Hungarians to spread Christianity.

After the founding of the state, this relationship was further strengthened by the work of King Szent István. Over the centuries, the Orthodox Church has greatly contributed to the spiritual and material growth of Hungary.

MTI