Today, October 10, the Steering Committee (SC) of the Integration Centre for Migrant Workers – Ecumenical Refugee Program (KSPM-ERP) was convened at the premises of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece at the initiative of His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Hieronymos, in connection with the currently increasing flows of refugees and migrants towards Greece.
The meeting was attended by the honourable ministers, Mr. M. Chrysochoidis, Minister of Citizen Protection and Mr. G. Koumoutsakos, Alternate Minister on Immigration Policy, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Samos, Mr. Eusevios, President of EKYO, the reverent Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Theofilos Theoharis and the reverent General Director of EKYO Archimandrite Nikodimos Pharmakis.
During the meeting, His Beatitude emphasized the unbridled interest of the Church of Greece in the refugee and migration issue. The Church, as He emphasized, following the Evangelical exhortation to help the temperate brother regardless of colour, religion or origin, is ready to contribute decisively and assist the Greek State.
The long dialogue that followed was very fruitful with suggestions provided by the two Ministers, the members of the Steering Committee, their Eminences the Metropolitans of Ilion Acharnai and Petroupolis, Mr. Athinagoras, President of the Center, of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia Mr. Gabriel and of Thessalia and Fanariofersala Mr. Timotheos, as well as the General Director of EKYO and the Director of KSPM-ERP Archimandrite Panteleimon Papasynefakis.
The central issue of the dialogue and the main concern as regards the Church of Greece was to ensure the high standards of implementation of its programs which have established it as the most reliable implementer, even at European level. For this reason, the Church of Greece considers it essential to participate in all stages of the implementation of the programs it will undertake, for example, hospitality – education – employment – social inclusion. Priority is given to unaccompanied minors and refugee families.
From the Press Office of the Holy Synod
