Patriarch John X of Antioch Received by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of UAE
UAE Direct – 12/5/14
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, yesterday at his palace received His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and the members of the delegation accompanying him.
During the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan and Patriarch John X had cordial exchanges on interfaith tolerance and the commitment of UAE to promote tolerance as part of an approach established by UAE founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
In his remarks during the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan reiterated the commitment of UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to this approach in order to further promote fraternity, coexistence, peace and security for all people regardless of race, religions, colour, culture or language.
On his part, Patriarch John X commended UAE’s wise policy on religious tolerance and affirmed that followers of the Orthodox church enjoy freedom of worship in UAE
He also noted that in UAE followers of all faiths and nationals of all countries, including Lebanese nationals, receive good treatment, enjoy religious freedom and have equal job opportunities.
Earlier, Patriarch John X laid the foundation stone for the new Mar Elias Church in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, in presence of a large number of the followers of the Orthodox Church.
Present at the meeting with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak were Sheikhs, scholars, economists and academicians. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
