Archbishop of Canterbury's visit (25-28 November 2010)

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams is visiting Athens from 25 to 28 November at the invitation of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronimos. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Primate of All England (the 'first bishop' of England), and has oversight of the work and life of the Church of England.

Thursday 25 November

The Archibishop met the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias.

Later in the day the Archbishop met the Greek Prime Minister Papandreou

Desire and intelligence in the Philokalia, A lecture by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the occasion of his being awarded a doctorate honoris cause by the University of Athens 

Friday 26 November

Dinner in honour of the Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams: welcome address by HE The British Ambassador, Dr David Landsman

In more detail

In accepting Archbishop Ieronymos's invitation to be his guest, Archbishop Rowan hopes to learn more about the witness and outreach of the archdiocese, to strengthen the friendship between the Church of England and the Church of Greece, and to reflect together on some of the pastoral issues that the two churches face in seeking to serve the common good in their respective societies.

The Archbishop's programme will include meetings with the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Karolos Papoulias, the Prime Minister Mr George Papandreou, the Education & Religious Affairs Minister Mrs Anna Diamantopoulou and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Dimitris Dollis. He will have meetings with the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronimos and other representatives of the Greek Church and visit a number of Orthodox parishes and social projects around Athens. He will celebrate Advent Sunday with the Anglican community in Athens, and also be present at a celebration of the Divine Liturgy. During his visit he will also be awarded a doctorate honoris causa by the University of Athens for his work as a theological scholar and teacher.

Further information
This is the third such official visit by an Archbishop of Canterbury: Dr Michael Ramsey in 1962, and Dr George Carey in 1996.