Inter-Christian Dialogue
RSSHis 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 »
Address at the Thronal Feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
It is with great joy that we greet your presence at the Thronal Feast of our Most Holy Church of Constantinople and express gratitude to our brother in the Lord, Pope Benedict XVI, who sent you here, for his gracious fraternal gesture through you to participate in this festive celebration of the sacred commemoration of the founder of the Church in Byzantium, St. Andrew the First-Called of the Apostles. Learn More »
Address at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
The mission of your institution clearly states that: “The memory of our Patron requires from us a constant reflection upon John Paul II’s legacy and teaching.” For over a quarter of a century, the late Pope John Paul II shepherded the Church of Rome, standing as a symbol of unrelenting stability and hope in an age of widespread turmoil and despair. Undoubtedly, his tenure was inspired by an abiding faith as well as by the difficult circumstances that his home country Poland suffered for so many years under totalitarian oppression. This is an experience of martyrdom, with which the Orthodox Church can easily identify. Learn More »
Patriarchal and Synodal Encyclical On the Sunday of Orthodoxy
Our most holy Orthodox Church today commemorates its own feast day, and – from this historical and martyric See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the Mother Church of Constantinople directs its blessing, love and concern to all of its faithful and dedicated spiritual children throughout the world, inviting them to concelebrate in prayer. Learn More »
Patriarchal and Synodal Encyclical On the Sunday of Orthodoxy
Our most holy Orthodox Church today commemorates its own feast day, and – from this historical and martyric See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the Mother Church of Constantinople directs its blessing, love and concern to all of its faithful and dedicated spiritual children throughout the world, inviting them to concelebrate in prayer. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Those who endeavored over the ages to suppress the Church through various visible and invisible persecutions; Learn More »
Address at the Reception Held Upon the Patronal Feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
We cordially thank you for coming here and sharing in our joy and thereby increasing it. Indeed, joy grows greater when there are more to share in it, just as sorrow diminishes when its burden is shared by the friends of the sorrowing. Learn More »
At the Reception in His Honor at the Museum of Biblical Art Exhibition "Scripture, Image, Life: Orthodox Christianity"
We greet you this evening in the name of the Creator and Light of the world, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who commanded his Apostles to, “Go forth unto all nations, teaching them all that [He] had commanded.” It is with a warm heart, much gratitude, and in the solidarity of the apostolic commission to share Christ’s Gospel with every person in every corner of the world that we thank the American Bible Society and the Museum of Biblical Art for honoring the ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with such an extraordinary witness to the inexhaustible love with which God created the world. Learn More »
Communique of Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of the 11th Plenary Session
The eleventh meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church took place in Paphos, Cyprus, a city with a rich history, having received three Apostles, Paul, Barnabas and Mark. The meeting took place from 16-23 October 2009, generously and fraternally hosted by the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Learn More »
Unity as Calling, Conversion and Mission Opening address by His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Plenary of the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith and Order "Called To Be One Church", Crete Greece
It is with great joy that we accepted the gracious invitation of our beloved Faith and Order Commission to address this auspicious plenary gathering. We would also like to welcome you all – academics and pastors, ministers and lay leaders from diverse regions of the world – to our Orthodox Academy on this uniquely beautiful island. The theme of this plenary session is: “Called to be One Church: that they may become one in your hand.” 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 »
Greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Visit of the President of the Ukraine to The Ecumenical Patriarchate
It is with great joy and paternal pride that we welcome you – in the distinguished company of venerable hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne and official guests from the Ukraine – to the Patriarchal Church of St. George, spiritual home of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Learn More »
Address to the XIIth Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church
It is at once humbling and inspiring to be graciously invited by Your Holiness to address the XIIth Ordinary General Assembly of this auspicious Synod of Bishops, an historical meeting of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church from throughout the world, gathered in one place to meditate on “the Word of God” and deliberate on the experience and expression of this Word “in the Life and Mission of the Church.” Learn More »
Communique From The Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
At the opening session, the two Co-Presidents of the Commission, His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) and His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate), expressed their joy and thankfulness to God for the continuation of the theological dialogue between the two Churches. Learn More »
Address to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Upon the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
Glory be to God for all things! For, He has rendered us worthy to share in His bountiful blessings. How can we ever thank Him sufficiently for the divine grace and goodness showered upon us all? It is with sentiments of sincere joy and earnest thanks that we have just participated in the solemn services on the blessed occasion of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostolic Patrons of the ancient Church of senior Rome. The shedding of their sacred blood has proved to be a blessing for the universal Christian Church throughout the ages. Learn More »
Communique on the14th Session of the International Joint Commission on the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Lutherans
The 14th plenary of the International Joint Commission on the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and Lutherans was held from 30 May – 7 June 2008 at the St. George Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, hosted by the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Learn More »
Communique of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church Tenth Plenary Session
The tenth meeting of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church met in Ravenna, Italy, a city marked by its historical and artistic monuments many from the Byzantine era. The meeting took place from 8 - 14 October 2007, generously hosted by the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia. Learn More »
Preparatory Meeting for the 14th Session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission
Participants in the meeting were from the Orthodox side: Metropolitan Prof. Dr. Gennadios of Sassima, Ecumenical Patriarchate (Co-Chair); the V. Revd. Prof. Dr. George D. Dragas, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem; the Revd. Prof. Dr. Viorel Ionita, Patriarchate of Romania; Prof. Dr. Christos Voulgaris, Church of Greece; the Revd. Prof. Dr. Vaclav Jezek, Orthodox Church of Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Revd. Learn More »
Communique on the Third European Assembly
We, Christian pilgrims from all over Europe and beyond, witness to the transforming power of this light, which is stronger than darkness, and we proclaim it as all-embracing hope for our Churches, for all of Europe and for the entire world. In the name of our Triune God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have assembled in the city of Sibiu, Romania (4th-9th September 2007). This third European Ecumenical Assembly was marked especially by the richness of Orthodox spirituality and tradition. Learn More »
Greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Seventy-First Convention of Wingolfsbund
It is with sincere joy that we greet the 71st convention of the historical student association Wingolf, the oldest such establishment in Europe, with roots dating back to ecumenical gatherings from before the middle of the nineteenth century. Learn More »
Meditation of His All -Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew At The Opening Prayer Service of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu
The Light of Christ shines upon all !
Hope for renewal and unity in Europe
We give glory to the Almighty and Triune God, who rendered us worthy – from East and West, from North and South, from all over our historical continent Europe, to gather for a third time as all of its Christian Churches, so that “with one mouth and one heart” we may praise His Holy Name and offer a common Christian witness.
We give glory to the Almighty for, through the Light of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, He has guided our steps and thoughts during the last three decades, so that we have developed a worthy ecumenical activity and close cooperation among all Christian Churches, with hopeful p
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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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