Vatican students visit Church of Greece headquarters

ATHENS, Greece | Twenty-five Vatican students and staff from 20 countries visited the administrative headquarters of the Church of Greece for a close look at the work of the Holy Synod’s services and the Orthodox ecclesiastical tradition.

The visit was part of the program “Learning the Greek language — getting to know the Orthodox tradition and Greek culture,” which began in 2005 on the initiative of the General Director of Apostoliki Diakonia, Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanarion.

For one month, the participants live in Athens, stay at the Theological Boarding House of Apostoliki Diakonia, take daily Greek lessons and visit churches, monasteries, Church metropolises and museums.

Through the language, the program seeks to bring them closer to the history, theology