The Mufti of Istanbul

The Mufti of Istanbul
Meeting with His Excellency the Mufti (The highest Muslim religious leader) of Istanbul, a very pleasant man who was on his first day of office in Istanbul.
He greeted us with a very big smile and a warm welcome. On his welcome speech he pointed out that clashes in the world are clashes of not really religion or faith but of interest. He said it is such a beautiful thing to hear the sound of church bells along with the Alahu akbar of the Muslims early in the morning in Istanbul. After the Amen Ethiopia Pilgrims song which we sang hand in hand with him, he sang for us about the will of the Creator to make us all different and that we should love and respect one another.

The Writers and Journalists Foundation
Meeting with The Journalists and Writers Foundation. It felt very much like meeting friends. This group shares our vision in a very peculiar way. They worked with diverse people around the world in relation to inter-faith dialogue and peace building parties. Besides giving each of us gifts of tea cups from Istanbul they also gave us their words that we will work together in the future in bringing the vision of the Amen Ethiopia to a reality. They informed us that it was established in 1994 and shared some of their experiences which were of use to us all.

Audience with His All Holiness the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul).
We were offered to go to the guest room by the His Holiness’s personal secretary. After a few minutes All His Holiness arrived, a very graceful man who was well informed of our mission. We gave a very brief introduction of our visit. He pointed out the importance of dialogue and that it always needs sacrifice. He appreciated our effort and also said that he has been in Ethiopia before and plans to go back in the near future. He gave us his blessing, told us to send his greetings to all the religious leaders we meet along our pilgrimage. At last he gave each of us a small cross and told us he will keep us in his prayer.

Meeting with Father Gabrielle.
Address by Father Gabrielle a Greek Orthodox priest in Athens Father Gabrielle is in charge of the Synodical Committee on Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations. He took us to Areopagus Hill where the Apostle Paul preached the Good News (Gospel) to the people of Athens for the first time. Right at that spot father Gabrielle addressed the pilgrims of Amen Ethiopia by expressing his heart felt wish for peace, reconciliation, transformation and unity in Ethiopia at the eve of the third Millennium.