Promotion of pilgrimage tourism between Russia and Greece through the establishment of a joint coordinating committee was decided here during a meeting between Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia and visiting Greek Tourism Development Minister Costas Markopoulos.
Markopoulos, the first Greek government minister to be received by the new Patriarch of Russia, stated that the committee will be comprised of three Russian Church members, Church of Greece representatives as well as a Greek tourism ministry official. He also stated that the initiative reaffirms that the Patriarch of Moscow will to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations through pilgrimage tourism.
Markopoulos underlined the Russian Patriarch’s positive response to the initiative and stated that the Greek side’s intention is to make Russia an attractive tourist destination for the Greeks adding, at the same time, that more Russians are expected to visit Greece this year.
Welcoming Markopoulos, the Russian Patriarch stated that the number of Russian tourists visiting Greece is smaller than desired and pointed out that Greece offers countless attractive destinations expressing the wish that bilateral relations in the sector of tourism and pilgrimage visits will be further improved. Patriarch Cyril also referred to the unavoidable consequences of the economic crisis.
In statements he made after the meeting at the Patriarchal residence, Markopoulos stated that the Patriarch referred to his “warm relation” with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, adding that “all indications show that we are entering a new phase in the history of the two Churches and Patriarchates,” characterizing it as a positive development.
Markopoulos had meetings with the local government in the Russian capital to discuss the promotion of Greece’s tourist campaign in the greater Moscow region and attended the first screening of the film “El Greco” in Russian cinemas. Later in the evening, he will be present in an event held for the promotion of Evros Prefecture, in northeast Greece, as a tourism destination.
