Vienna, 19 May 2025. Participation to the Central European Prayer Breakfast

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, traveled to Vienna to participate in the first Central European Prayer Breakfast. The IAO received an official invitation by the organizing committee consisted of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Mr. Eduard Heger, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mr. Alojz Peterle, the Member of Parliament of Austria, Ms. Gudrun Kugler, and the Secretary General of the European Prayer Breakfast Foundation, Mr. Carlton Deal. This event, with particular symbolism, was held on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and 75th anniversary of the founding of the European Union.

This historic meeting was attended by parliamentarians and high-ranking representatives from across Europe and the world. The Secretary General had the opportunity to discuss the current international situation and the future of Europe with important figures, including the former President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. George Tsereteli.

In fact, the head of the IAO participated in the Roundtable on Religious Freedom, with the keynote speaker being the late US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Mr. Sam Brownback, co-chair of the Summit on International Religious Freedom (IRF). The discussion was entitled “Contemporary Challenges and Prospects for Promoting Religious Freedom Around the World.” After the Roundtable, the IAO Secretary General spoke with Mr. Brownback, who expressed a strong interest in further cooperation with the Orthodox world.

During his stay in Vienna, the Secretary General visited the United Nations International Centre in Vienna, where he was briefed on its activities and functions. During the visit, he had the opportunity to meet veteran peacekeeper Mr. Friedrich Schipper, who served on three missions to Lebanon in the framework of UNESCO training activities for the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission.

During the visit to the Austrian Parliament, the parliamentary delegations exchanged views with the host, MP Gudrun Kugler, on the course of Europe and its Christian roots. In fact, she informed them that the depiction of Crucified Jesus is hung in the Austrian Parliament as a sign of respect for the decisive contribution of Christianity in the formation of European identity. As a token of appreciation, the Secretary General invited the delegation to the upcoming IAO General Assembly in Bucharest to address the audience and participate in the debate on the main topic.

Finally, the IAO Secretary General attended church at the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Holy Trinity and had a meeting with the Metropolitan of Austria, Exarch of Hungary and Central Europe, Mr. Arsenios.