VATICAN CITY, DEC. 4, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece will visit Benedict XVI and the Church of Rome from Dec. 13-16.

Although the archbishop was in Rome for John Paul II's funeral, it will be the first time that the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church visits the Pope and Church of Rome officially.

The Holy Father will receive Archbishop Christodoulos and his entourage on Dec. 14 in the morning and, during a ceremony in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will give him part of a chain kept in the basilica -- which, according to tradition, was used when St. Paul was held prisoner.

During the Orthodox Αrchbishop's visit to Rome, the Pontifical Lateran University will confer an honorary doctorate on him.

The Αrchbishop and his entourage will also visit some of the holy sites of Rome, such as the basilicas and catacombs.

Οn Nov. 3, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece expressed its "joy at this visit, the fruits of which will be positive."

In recent years, relations between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Holy See have improved significantly.

The new era of relations began with John Paul II's pilgrimage in 2001 in the footsteps of St. Paul, during which he visited the Areopagus of Athens and signed a joint declaration with Archbishop Christodoulos.

Subsequently, there has been an exchange of visits between delegations of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece to Rome and of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, headed by Cardinal Walter Kasper, to Athens.