Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ian Shugart had a meeting and a long conversation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on January 30.

Mr. Shugart, accompanied by the Director of Eastern Europe & Eurasia at Global Affairs Canada, Alison Grant; the Canadian Ambassador to Ankara, Chris Cooter; and the Canadian Consul General in the city, Ulric Shannon; had the opportunity to discuss with His All-Holiness the initiatives of the primary Church of Orthodoxy and the issues that concern her flock, both at her seat and in Canada, as well as the issue of the autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine.

Elpidophoros, the Metropolitan of Bursa, attended the meeting.