Letters
RSSUrgent Appeal for the Famine in the Horn of Africa
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. Learn More »
His All-Holiness conveys condolences and support to the Prime Minister of Norway and the Bishop of Oslo in the aftermath of the tragic bombing and shootings
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. Learn More »
Ecumenical Patriarch expresses sympathy and prayers to Japanese nation for recent tragedy and ongoing crisis
It is with heavy heart that we communicate with Your Honor in order to convey our sincerest and fervent sympathy for the tragedy that has befallen your blessed and progressive nation in recent days. Learn More »
Ecumenical Patriarch expresses condolences to Pope Shenouda about deadly terror attacks
We hasten to express to Your Beatitude our sincerest and whole-hearted condolences for the recent terrorist attack outside of Saints Coptic Church. Words cannot adequately express our shock and sorrow at the magnitude of this tragedy; the ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness of the assailants has shaken Christians and people of good will all over the world. This unjust and unjustifiable incident has revealed to us and to the entire world the great price that Christians continue to pay for their faith in Christ Jesus. Learn More »
Condolences sent to His Beatitude Metropolitan Savvas of Warsaw and All Poland
On the tragic event which befell your dear country and its noble people, we express the sincere sympathy and condolences of the Mother Church and our mediocrity and pray that the Lord of life and death may grant rest to the souls of the victims, solace to their families, and that He may guard Poland and the Polish nation from all evil, calamity, and injury. Learn More »
Congratulatory Telegram of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Newly-Elected Patriarch of Moscow
On the occasion of your well-deserved election today as the new Head of the most holy sister and chosen daughter Church of Russia, we convey to you our heartfelt brotherly salutation, both of the Church of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and of our Modesty personally. We also congratulate the notably faithful members of your holy Church, the distinctly pious clergy, and the Hierarchy of your Holy Church illumined by the Holy Spirit, for electing in a zealous unanimity a Patriarch with the honor and high standing of your venerable Beatitude. Learn More »
Letter of the Supreme Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
By the grace of God, we have returned to Armenia and the Mother See of' Holy Etchmiadzin with fond memories from our fraternal visit to Your All Holiness and our pontifical visit to the Armenian Patriarchate and community of Constantinople. Upon our arrival, with a content heart and filled with joy, we offered thanks to the Almighty for His mercy and love which gave us the opportunity to pray together in your holy churches and monasteries, and to continue the theological dialogue between our two Sister Churches, during which time became apparent the path to stronger ties. . Learn More »
Letter of Reply from His Most Godly Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria to His All-Holiness the Most Godly Oecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaeos concerning the election of His Grace Bishop Basil of Amphipolis
All-Holy and Most Godly Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Oecumenical Patriarch, most beloved and dearest brother and concelebrant of our Humility, Lord Vartholomaeos, embracing Your beloved All-Holiness in the Lord, we greet you with very great pleasure. Learn More »
Letter of Reply from His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Paphos, Locum-tenens of the Archi-episcopal Throne of Cyprus, to His All-Holiness the Most Godly Oecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaeos concerning the election of His Grace Bishop Basil of Amphip
All-Holy Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Oecumenical Patriarch, our most beloved and distinguished brother and concelebrant, Lord Vartholomaeos, embracing Your most-respected All-Holiness brotherly in the Lord, we greet you with very great pleasure. Learn More »
Letter of Reply from His Most Godly Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to His All-Holiness the Most Godly Oecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaeos concerning the election of His Grace Bishop Basil of Amphipolis
All-Holy and Most Eminent Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Oecumenical Patriarch, the most beloved and earnestly-cherished brother in Christ the God and concelebrant of our Humility, Lord Vartholomaeos, embracing Your distinguished and Eminent All-Holiness with a holy kiss, we greet you with very great pleasure. Learn More »
Message of Pope of Rome Benedictus XVI on the occasion of the Patronal Feast of Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It is with great joy that I write to Your Holiness on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Andrew, apostle and brother of Saint Peter. The delegation which I send to you, led by the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, brings you the warmest fraternal greetings of the Church of Rome. While I myself would have wished to be present to assure you personally of my affection for you in the Lord and to pray with you, I nevertheless convey my fervent hope for an even deeper communion which will overcome those obstacles remaining between us and enable us to celebrate together the Holy Eucharist, the one sacrifice of Christ for the life of the world. Learn More »
Patriarchal Letter to the Prime Minister of FYROM Mr. Vlado Buckovski
While we were in the process of resolving a peaceful way for our Holy and Great Church of Christ to mediate between the Holy Churches of Serbia and Skopje that are in a dispute and as we were coming to a conclusion of this matter, the arrest and imprisonment of His Eminence Metropolitan John, which received great attention from the Mass Media, has deeply saddened and puzzled us. Learn More »
Letter of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to His Grace Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England, upon the recent tragic bombings in London.
It is with great sorrow that we learned of the tragic bombings that occurred in the city of London, taking the lives of at least 50 individuals and injuring so many more. In your understandable grief and sorrow, we wish to convey to you and to the family members of the victims our personal condolences and those of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Learn More »
Letter to His Excellency Victor Yuschenko, President of Ukraine
It was with great joy that we received your invitation dated 21 January 2005, after your election by the beloved people of Ukraine, to attend your inauguration as the President of the Republic of Ukraine, which will take place on 23 January. Learn More »
Letter of His Excellency Viktor Yuschenko, President of Ukraine, to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
We have gladly received Your congratulation to my election as the President of Ukraine. We are very grateful to You and in Your person to the Mother-Church from which are people adopted Christianity in the year 988, - for Your prayers benediction and kind wishes directed to me and the long-suffering Ukrainian Nation that has firmly chosen the way for democracy. Learn More »
Letter of His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Romania Theoctist, to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholoemew
It is with brotherly love in Christ, our Lord, that we inform Your Holiness that, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates two events of a great importance in her more recent history: 120 years since the Thomos of Autocephaly was received from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and 80 years since our Church was raised to the rank of Patriarchate. It is in this context that the Romanian Patriarchate will organise several religious and Cultural events in order to mark the above mentioned jubilee moments in the life of the Romanian Orthodoxy, with the participation of many personalities from the public, ecclesiastical and cultural life from Romania. Learn More »
Letter of President of the USA His Excellency Mr George Bush to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Thank you very much for your kind letter. This is a time of great challenge and opportunity, and I look forward to the work ahead. Learn More »
Letter from the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
At this time of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the light of the world, we greet you in the name of him who says, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage: I have overcome the world” (John 16.33). On behalf of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, we write to express our profound sorrow at the reports we are receiving of new pressures and difficulties being brought upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Learn More »
Letter of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
t is with great pleasure that I received your kind letter inviting me to participate in the inter-religious conference on the theme of Religion, Peace and the Olympic Ideal to be held under the auspices of His Excellency President Constantine Stephanopoulos of the Hellenic Republic, on 10 & 11 August 2004. This conference being an integral part of the activities and ceremonies initiating the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Learn More »
Message to Pope John Paul II upon the 40th anniversary of the meeting of Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem
n these days, in which a forty-year period is completed since the historical and blessed meeting in Jerusalem between our predecessors Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory, we turn our thoughts, in gratitude, to their sacred memory and to the vision of the complete union of our sister Churches in the common faith and in the sacraments. It was this vision that they served through brave initiatives and steps. 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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