On Saturday, January, 2012, in his traditional custom of honoring former patriarchs, His All-Holiness held a Trisagion Service in memory of the late Patriarch Neophytos VIII at the cemetery of Holy Trinity Monastery beside the Theological School of Halki.    

On Monday, January 16, 2012, His All-Holiness, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Sinope, the deputy secretary of the Holy Synod, Deacon Joachim, the Journalist/Photographer Nikolaos Manginas, as well as members of his family, visited his native Island of Imvros.    

On Friday, January 6, 2012, His All-Holiness presided over the Divine Liturgy with members of the Holy and Sacred Synod on the occasion of the Feast of the Theophany at the Patriarchal Church of St. George.    

On Sunday, Christmas Day, 2011, His All-Holiness presided over the Divine Liturgy on the great Feast of the Lord's Nativity at the Patriarchal Church of St. George. In attendance were the Consul General of Greece in Istanbul, the Hon. Nicholas Mathioudakis, the Greek Consul in Edirne, the Hon. Catherine Varvarigos, and numerous pilgrims and youth from all over the world.    

On Saturday, Christmas Eve, 2011, His All Holiness was greeted in the Patriarchal Hall by children of the Youth Culture and Arts Association, students of the various community schools in Istanbul, as well as members of the Romanian community, who sang traditional Christmas carols.    

On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, His All-Holiness received the President of Romania, the Hon. Traian Basesco, accompanied by the Foreign Minister of Romania, the Hon. Teodor Baconschi, and the Romanian Ambassador in Ankara, His Excellency Radu Onofrei, at the Phanar.    

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed the Hon. Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States to the Sacred See of St. Andrew, First-called of the Apostles. The historical first visit of a sitting Vice President of the United States took place on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey.