Greek Education Minister announces support for Patriarchates and diaspora clergy in Istanbul visit

Greek Minister for Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki has announced a cardinal authorities inaugural to formally recognise and support clergy serving successful the diaspora, during her visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople successful Istanbul.

The announcement came during her gathering with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I astatine the Phanar, where discussions besides focused connected strengthening historical Patriarchates and enhancing Greek-language acquisition some successful Constantinople and abroad.

Speaking aft the meeting, Zacharaki said the constitution of an organization model for diaspora clergy is simply a cardinal authorities precedence aimed astatine supporting the historical Patriarchates.

“We met with His All-Holiness the Patriarch and discussed a very important inaugural of the Greek government—the ceremonial designation of diaspora clergy,” she said.

“It is simply a model that will support the historical Patriarchates, arsenic well arsenic the Monastery of Sinai.”

She added that the inaugural forms portion of a broader bundle of measures, with the draught authorities expected to beryllium released for nationalist consultation earlier being brought to parliament for a vote successful June.

“We anticipation for support from much than two parties connected this very important initiative,” she noted, adding that the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem will besides beryllium informed.

Patriarch Bartholomew thanked Zacharaki for the continued involvement of the Greek authorities successful matters concerning the Mother Church and the Greek diaspora successful Constantinople, Imbros and Tenedos.

The curate reiterated Greece’s respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s planetary mission, emphasising that the Greek state has consistently supported its multidimensional work.

Focus connected diaspora education

Zacharaki besides outlined measures to strengthen Greek-language acquisition overseas, with peculiar accent connected teacher allowances and organisational improvements.

“We person present secured a 5th year of further fiscal support for our teachers abroad,” she said, referring to the overseas allowance (epimisthio).

She confirmed that the measurement will use retroactively and that teacher secondments for the 2026–2027 schoolhouse year will beryllium announced earlier than successful erstwhile years.

“We are committed to announcing teacher placements earlier each year, and this will besides beryllium the lawsuit for the upcoming schoolhouse year,” she said.

On the contented of timely transportation of schoolbooks, the curate said the authorities has already taken steps to guarantee materials are sent earlier.

“Each year the Ministry sends thousands of books astir the world, and we are ever working to guarantee they get connected time,” she noted.

Highlighting the standard of support, she added that much than 750 teachers are seconded annually to Greek-language programmes and schools abroad.

According to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the gathering was attended by Greece’s Consul General successful Istanbul, Konstantinos Koutras, arsenic well arsenic elder Patriarchate representatives, including Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Archdeacon Aetios, Director of the Patriarchal Private Office.