The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hosted a reception on occasion of the 25 years of His tenure at the Patriarchal Ministry. The chiefs of the foreign diplomatic missions in Istanbul participated in the reception. At the reception, during which the Marmara Group Foundation was represented by Mrs. Müjgan Suver and Dr. Akkan Suver, H.H. Bartholomew – the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed a speech expressing his gladness for the coincidence of His accession to office for 25 years with the Feast Day of St. Andrew the Apostle. The reception was enlivened with the presence of the-then Minister of Interior of Turkey, Selahattin Çetin, who was the commander of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his military service as a reserve officer. Apart from this, a painting exhibition was held at the Consulate General of Greece to Istanbul in honour of the 25th anniversary of accession to the Patriarchal Ministry of the Patriarch Bartholomew. Dr. Akkan Suver visiting the art gallery together with Hon. Evangelos C. Sekeris, the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, said ‘the 25 years of Patriarch Bartholomew at the office has gone with the wind.’

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew  with Consul General of Hungary Hon. Balazs Hendrich, Mr. Fermani Altun Mme. Müjgan Suver, Consul General of Israel Hon. Shai Cohen and Dr. Akkan Suver