The head of Fatih City Council, Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan, made a ceremonial visit to the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate today, Monday, November 25, for the first time since assuming office last April, reciprocating the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to him after his election. Note that the Patriarchate is within the confines of Fatih Municipality in Istanbul.

Mr. Turan, who was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Mehmet Özçelik and his Counselor Nilüfer Türütgen, was received by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The meeting was also attended, on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Archon Hartophylax Panteleimon Vinkas, Mr. George Papaliaris, Vice President of the Association for Support of Roman Community Foundations (SYRKI), and Mr. Stelios Goulgion, Commissioner in the Ecclesiastical Community of Ipsomathion.

After the meeting, His All-Holiness gave a luncheon in honor of the Mayor. Mr. Turan subsequently met with the aforementioned lay associates of His All-Holiness on issues within the Mayor’s competence concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its institutions in the area.

Earlier, Mayor Turan had visited the Patriarchal Church, where he was informed about the history and relics kept there, as well as the Patriarchal Library.