Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Aphrem II meets with political figures in Hungary

BUDAPEST — During his tour of Hungary, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II met with newly elected Hungarian President Katalin Novak. The Patriarch congratulated Novak on her electoral victory and thanked her for the Hungarian state’s support for Eastern Christians.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II was accompanied on the visit by Archbishop Timothy Matta al-Khoury, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama, Tartus and its Dependencies, and the head of the Association of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Hungary Mtanas al-Aweel.

The patriarch also met with the head of the Hungarian State Secretariat for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Minister Tristan Azbej, in Budapest.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the projects carried out by the Church with the support of the Hungarian government through the Hungary Helps Foundation, reviewing the development of these projects and the stages of their implementation. They also discussed the recent visit of Minister Azbej to Syria and prospects for future cooperation between the Patriarchate and the Ministry.