His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople visits Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ankara

On 6 October 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople visited the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ankara. H.E. Mr. Alexei Yerkhov, Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey, told the Patriarch about the history and current activities of the Russian diplomatic representation and showed to the guest the portrait gallery. Exhibited there are portraits of the Russian diplomats who served in Turkey, including that of Andrei Karlov, Hero of Russia, who tragically died in Ankara on 19 December 2016.

As Mr. Yerkhov said during the meeting, there are plans to install a bust of Andrei Karlov in front of the Embassy. During his visit, Patriarch Bartholomew and Archimandrite Vissarion (Komzias) celebrated a litiya for the late Ambassador at the place of the future memorial.

It was the first ever visit of a Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople to the Russian diplomatic mission in Ankara.

On October 7, Patriarch Bartholomew prayed at the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox community in Ankara. Among those who attended the service were Bishop Ruben Tierrablanca, Apostolic vicar in Istanbul, and representatives of the Embassies of Russia and France.

DECR Communication Service