On Tuesday June 23, 2026, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, received His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. The visit addressed matters concerning the Syriac Orthodox Church and the situation of its faithful in Türkiye and the region. His Holiness was accompanied by a church delegation that included their Eminences the Archbishops of the Archdioceses in Türkiye and the heads of their councils.
During the meeting, His Holiness expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the President for his support and attention to the affairs of the Syriac Orthodox Church. He commended the efforts made to restore the lands of the Monastery of Mor Gabriel, as they constitute historic properties belonging to the Church, as well as the support given to the construction of St. Aphrem Church in Istanbul and the President’s attendance at both the cornerstone-laying ceremony and its official inauguration. Both sides also emphasized the importance of preserving religious and cultural heritage and fostering an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation among the various components of society.
The meeting further underscored the importance of continuing communication and cooperation on issues concerning the Church, its institutions, and its faithful in Türkiye.