Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick Meets Archbishop Demetrios of America & Visits Agios Nikolaos Church at Ground Zero

The Deputy Foreign Minister for Greek Diaspora Affairs, Terens Quick, is concluding tonight his five-day visit on the east coast of the U.S.A. Representing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and at the invitation of Florida congressman Gus Bilirakis, the Deputy Minister attended the 6 January Divine Liturgy of the Holy Epiphany and the Blessing of the Waters Ceremony at Tarpon Springs.

Specifically, the Deputy Foreign Minister met with the Greek American mayors of Tarpon Springs, Chris Alahouzos, and of Clearwater, George Cretekos, as well as visited Greek schools and the University of Florida’s Center for Greek Studies.

Yesterday, Mr. Quick met with Elder Archbishop Demetrios of America in New York, and he visited the Church of Saint Nicholas, at Ground Zero. Foreign Minister Kouik and Archbishop Demetrios discussed the issues of schools, the Greek language as the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), for which the Archbishop expressed very interesting views.

Before the meeting with the Archbishop, Foreign Minister Terence Kouik together with General Consul of Greece in New York Mr. Constantine Koutras and diplomatic adviser Victor Maligkoudis visited St. Nicholas, the Greek Orthodox church that is being erected at “Ground Zero”.

“It is an architectural masterpiece of famous architect Calatrava. The church will have the form of an orthodox oil lamp and I am convinced that it will become a point of global reference for Orthodoxy, based here in New York, where 16 years ago tragedy hit the Twin Towers. It is estimated that the construction will be completed in the spring of 2018 and I imagine that the inauguration will be a global event with both the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Greece participating to it. Today, while the church is being erect and it is still a building site, it is estimated that more than 23,000 people visit the surrounding area. One can imagine how many more visitors it will attract once the church is completed. “

On 7 January, Mr. Quick travelled to Boston, where met with leaders of the Greek Community and Greek academics teaching at universities in the area. On 8 January, he participated in a special ceremony being held at Boston’s Saint Nectarios Church on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the death of American philhellene Samuel Howe, who took an active part in the Greek Revolution of 1821, in the area of Tripoli, with the forces of Theodoros Kolokotronis.

Today, Mr. Quick will carry out a one-day visit to Washington, DC, where he will meet with members of the House of Representatives and representatives of Greek American community organizations, departing tonight for Athens.

Finally, in Tampa, New York and Washington, Mr. Quick help press conferences with local Greek community news media.