Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Thursday received the leadership of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners’ Association in his Phanar-district see in Istanbul.

The “primus inter pares” of the world Christian Orthodox Primates later noted that it was the first time he has officially received representatives of the shipping sector at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The delegation was headed by association Haralambos Simantonis.