Homilies, Statements, and Lectures
RSSAnnouncement about Vatopedi Monastery
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. Learn More »
His All-Holiness expresses support to Pope Shenouda on recent tragedy in Egypt
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. Learn More »
Message of the Heads of the ancient Orthodox Patriarchates and the time-honored Autocephalous Church of Cyprus
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), we have assembled at the See of the historical and martyric Ecumenical Throne, at the invitation and under the presidency of the first among us in order and honor, in order to experience and declare the love of Christ that binds us (2 Cor. 5.14) at all times, and most especially in times of trial and tribulation. Learn More »
Announcement Synaxis of their Beatitudes the heads of the Ancient Orthodox Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus
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. Learn More »
2011 Catechetical Homily on the opening of Holy and Great Lent
“The arena of the virtues has opened; those who desire to compete may enter, girding themselves with the good struggle of fasting.” (Triodion, Cheesefare Sunday) Or, better, the arena has always remained open, from the time that the All-Merciful Lord of Glory deemed it worthy to assume our nature. Since then, through His Church, he invites every person to participate in the boundless gifts of the grace of the Holy Spirit, particularly during this blessed period of Holy and Great Lent. Learn More »
Greeting to the Most Reverend Officers of the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America
It is indeed a delight for us to welcome you to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to the courtyard of the Church of Constantinople, New Rome. We are deeply touched by the extensive spiritual journey that you have undertaken from the western shores of the United States of America through renowned historical cities of Christianity in Europe, a journey that has brought you here through distinguished centers of prominence from the earliest Apostolic times through the golden age of the Fathers. Learn More »
Religion and the Environment: The Link Between Survival and Salvation
Last October, the Ecumenical Patriarchate convened an international, interdisciplinary and interfaith symposium in New Orleans on the Mississippi River, the eighth in a series of high-level conferences exploring the impact of our lifestyle and consumption on our planet’s major bodies of water. Similar symposia have met in the Aegean and Black Seas, in the Adriatic and Baltic Seas, along the Danube and Amazon Rivers, and on the Arc Learn More »
Greeting to the Most Reverend Officers of the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America
It is with great joy that we welcome you to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as brother hierarchs and officers of the blessed Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America. We are particularly delighted to receive all of you here at the Sacred Center of Orthodoxy, the First-Throne and Mother Church of Constantinople, and we warmly greet you, as brothers accompanying our esteemed Exarch in America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, and as hierarchs ministering in the United States: Your Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk (serving as vice-chairman of the assembly), Your Eminence Archbishop Antony of Hierapolis (serving as treasurer of the assembly), and Your Grace Bishop Basil of Wichita (serving as secretary of the assembly). Learn More »
Sins Against Nature and God: We Are All Accountable for Ignoring the Global Consequences of Environmental Exploitation
Once again, in a matter only of a few years, the eyes of the world are turned with suspense toward the Gulf Coast. Sadly, the oil spill is following a path similar to Hurricane Katrina and threatening the coast of Louisiana as well as neighboring states. Learn More »
Catechetical Homily On the Commencement of Holy and Great Lent
Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord, Tomorrow, we enter the period of Holy and Great Lent. In the Lenten vespers of Forgiveness chanted this evening, we shall hear the sacred hymnographer urging us to "begin the time of fasting with joy, submitting ourselves to spiritual struggle" in preparing to welcome the great Passion and joyful Resurrection of our divine-human Lord. Learn More »
At the Patriarchal Chorostasia of the Doxology on the Occasion of the 18th Anniversary of His Enthronement as Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
This evening we are brought together by the Holy Spirit in great joy and supreme love, as we celebrate with the community of Saints Constantine and Helen Church here in Annapolis, along with many faithful of the God-saved Metropolis of New Jersey. It is with profound humility and paternal love that we share with you this day as the observance of the eighteenth anniversary of our enthronement as the successor of the First-Called Apostle Saint Andrew as Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch. Learn More »
At the Luncheon in Honor of His All Holiness Hosted by His Excellency Vassilis Kaskarelis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the United States of America
Here at the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic, we are reminded of the living universal and transformative ideals of Hellenism, with which the Orthodox Christian Faith shares the entirety of its two thousand year history. Among these universal ideals are the formative concepts of democracy, human rights, and the transcendent nature of the human person. Long before the world spoke of a “philosophia perennis” the Ancient Hellenes were mapping out the metaphysical and natural world across a broad philosophical landscape that is unmatched for its originality, precision, truthfulness, and humanity to this very day. Learn More »
At the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy and Archon Investiture
The New Testament readings that we heard this morning provide us with a unique image – not only of the faithful in general within the Church – but also of the relationship that you enjoy as members of the Order of St. Andrew with the Apostolic See of Constantinople founded by the First-Called Apostle Andrew. What we have before us is an icon of the bond that we share, of the affiliation with which you are invested as Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Learn More »
Remarks of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW at the Concert for Peacemakers
We greet you with all love and every paternal blessing in the Lord on this most joyous occasion. We are honored indeed by this event, this concert in Tribute to Peacemakers, celebrating both our current mission of environmental stewardship, as well as the foregoing decade of peacemaking ministry of our beloved brother Archbishop Demetrios of America. How we have enjoyed this evening! The virtuosity of all the musicians who perform under the direction of Maestro Tiboris, soloists, and the choir of our beloved youth. We pray that God, who gave all of you such tremendous musical skills, will bless you in the offering of these talents throughout all your lives. Learn More »
At the Dinner In Honor of His All Holiness at World of Coca Cola hosted by Muhtar Kent
Tonight we have gathered at this remarkable center, in truth, a museum to one of the most beloved products and, if we might use the word, ‘icons,’ of the twentieth century. We have been brought together by a dear and trusted friend, Mr. Muhtar Kent, who presides over this remarkable company with more than one million employees in two hundred countries as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Learn More »
At the Patriarchal Chorostasia of the Service for Ecumenical Peacemakers
It is, we emphasize, no coincidence that we meet in this place and at this hour, on the evening when the Orthodox Christian Church begins its commemoration of the Holy Apostle Cleopas. Saint Cleopas was one of the Apostles of the Seventy commissioned by Christ (Luke 10:1, 17). He was also one of the two disciples that the Lord met on the road to Emmaus after the Resurrection (Luke 24:18). The experience of Saint Cleopas has great meaning for our encounter today. Learn More »
Greeting of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW to the Metropolis of Atlanta
The tremendous growth of the Metropolis over the past decade; with new communities being founded, and a burgeoning populace of Orthodox faithful, testify to the providential care of His Eminence Alexios and to his co-workers here at the Metropolis Headquarters under the guidance and inspiration of His Eminence Demetrios, our Exarch in the U.S.A.. Learn More »
Homily of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Patriarchal Chorostasia of the Great Vespers for St. Demetrios the Myrrh-Streamer
Beloved, the power of a prayer is not to be measured by its length. The most powerful prayer may also be the most brief. Few but fervent were the words of Saint Nestor: “God of Demetrios, help me.” Yet through the power of these simple words, evil was vanquished, tyranny was frustrated, faith was vindicated, and not one, but two saints for the Kingdom of God were revealed. Learn More »
Message to the new General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
We take this opportunity to wholeheartedly congratulate you upon learning of your election as the 7th General Secretary of the World Council of Churches. As you respond to this calling from God, please be assured of our incessant prayers to our Lord God for your strength, wisdom and success as you now lead the journey towards unity of the World Council of Churches. Learn More »
Welcome Message at the Second Orthodox Youth Conference
t is with great joy that we welcome the 2nd Conference on Orthodox Youth, under the theme “Members of the Church – Citizens of the World”, which is organized by the Ecumenical Throne, from July 11 to 16 2007, here in this ancient and historic City, which will be the Cultural Capital of Europe in the year 2010 and where Christianity has been vibrant for two thousand years and has survived in spite of all difficulties, challenges and divisions. This Conference should also be considered as a pilgrimage to this City where the Apostle Andrew preached the Holy Gospel, where he performed many miracles, and where thousands of martyrs and confessors witnessed to their faith. Learn More »
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Latest News
Announcement about Vatopedi Monastery
Thursday, January 12, 2012
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...
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