News and Information

The Holy and Sacred Synod convened today, January 10, 2012, under the chairmanship of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for its regular session during which, among other matters, it discussed the issue that has arisen regarding the remand in custody of Fr. Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi. Read more...

The angels chant these three majestic proclamations and yet the great majority of human beings, although celebrating the feast of Christmas, cannot perceive the significance of the angelic song, instead asking themselves whether God is truly glorified today or why God should even be glorified; Read more...

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. Read more...

It is with heavy heart and wholehearted sympathy that we communicate with Your Beatitude – indeed, not for the first time this year! – for similar tragedies confronting our beloved and pious Coptic Christian brothers and sisters under your spiritual and pastoral protection in Egypt. Read more...

Preparations for the 2nd International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care are well underway. The Conference will take place in Rhodes between the 12th and 16th of October. Read more...

Adhering to the injunction of the Apostle, according to which in the Church of Christ “whenever one members suffers, all members suffer with it; and when one member is honored, all members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12.26) Read more...

At the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and under the presidency of the same, the Heads of the Ancient Patriarchates and of the time-honored Church of Cyprus gathered in Synaxis at the Phanar on September 1-3, 2011. Read more...

God’s grace renders us worthy today to commence yet another ecclesiastical year, one more festive cycle, within whose blessed opportunities we are called to struggle spiritually in order better to evaluate the potential that we have been granted for growing “in the likeness” of God so that we also might become His saints. Read more...

In recent weeks, our hearts have been wrenched as we witness the horrific images of famine plaguing countries in the Horn of Africa as a result of the most devastating droughts in over half a century. Read more...

It is with heartfelt sorrow that we hasten to covey to you and the noble Citizens of Norway, our personal condolences and sympathies, as well as those of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for the recent tragedies that have truly shaken your Nation and the world. Read more...