On the 25th of June 2012, President Nicolae Timofti awarded the Order of the Republic to His Holiness OEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, within official visit to Turkey.
The highest state distinction ofMoldovawas awarded to the Patriarch in sign of profound gratitude for the outstanding contribution to the building of a lyceum in theRepublicofMoldova.
In the morning on the 25th of June, Nicolae Timofti visited the Museum House “Dimitrie Cantemir” inIstanbul, then laid flowers at the memorial plate of the Moldovan Prince. Later, the head of the Moldovan state visited the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and met the OEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I ofConstantinople.
It should be mentioned that His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I contributed in 2007 to the building of the lyceum in Macaresti, Ungheni. The building cost amounted to 1 400 000 EURO.