Sorin Grindeanu, Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, met last Wednesday with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The meeting took place during an official visit to Israel by the Romanian parliamentary delegation, which also included Romania’s health minister and several members of parliament.
“The first visit was to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, who reaffirmed the very good relations between the two Patriarchates, those of Jerusalem and Romania,” said Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, the Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Places and Superior of the Romanian establishments in Jerusalem, Jericho and on the Jordan River.
According to him, the talks focused on tensions in the Middle East and the challenges facing Christians in the Holy Land.
Grindeanu also thanked the Patriarch of Jerusalem for the support offered to Romanian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, as well as to the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representation in Jerusalem.
Prayer at the Holy Sepulchre
The Romanian delegation prayed at the Holy Sepulchre and was later received at the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representation in Jerusalem.
The officials also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and with Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Knesset.
In a social media post, the Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies said that people in Israel speak positively about the Romanian community and the Romanian Orthodox Church, noting that Romanians are respected as bridge-builders both within their communities and beyond.
Photo: Facebook / Biserica Ortodoxă Română Ierusalim
