The Secretary of Commerce of the USA, Wilbur Ross, visited the see of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar today, Sunday, September 8, 2019, and was welcomed with the honors ​​set forth in the Patriarchal Protocol.

Secretary Ross was accompanied by his wife and the new US Ambassador to Ankara, David Satterfield, as well as by politicians and officials of the Commerce Department and the US government, including James G. Rockas, Deputy Director of Policy and Strategic Planning of the Department of Commerce, who facilitated the visit.

On Sunday morning, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the celebrated Holy Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos Palaiou Baniou of Diplokionion.