Ecumenical Patriarchate Purchases 8th Century Church in Bursa

The world’s reputedly third oldest church, the Byzantine Başmelekler Church, or Taksiyarhon Church, was purchased by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Sept. 10, Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa, has announced. The Başmelekler Church, built in 789 by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos, is located in the Trilye region of the Marmara province of Bursa. The church was put […]

Communiqué on the resurgence of Violence spreading throughout the World

The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses profound concern about the resurgence of violence currently spreading throughout the world. From America to Africa and throughout Europe and Asia, continents are confronted with the phenomenon of intolerance that not only undermines world stability and peace, but also constitutes a denial of human dignity. Racial murders, genocide, ethnic cleansing, anti-semitism, […]

Communiqué for Respect of Religious Differences and Cessation of Violence

The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses profound sorrow as the world has rushed into a confusing and volatile time of religious protests turning violent, and a grievous lack of consideration for religious differences.  When we act disrespectfully and violently in the name of our religious prejudices or our religious beliefs we are undermining our own lives and […]

Consecration of Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonion (Cydoniae) at the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On Sunday, November 18, 2012, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch presided at the Divine Liturgy with eight Hierarchs (from the Churches of Constantinople and Greece) concelebrating at the Patriarchal Church of St. George for the consecration of the newly-elected Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonion, who formerly served as Grand Archimandrite at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His Beatitude […]

The Real Environmental Crisis. Lessons from the Green Patriarch

Earlier this month, His All Holiness Bartholomew, the Patriarch of 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians, convened a two-day conversation on “environment, ethics and innovation.” We gathered on the tiny, ancient island of Heybeliada off Istanbul, which was once the Patriarch’s Constantinople and before that New Rome. There were scientists there, and activists, and religious thinkers. […]

SYNAXIS OF HEADS OF THE ANCIENT PATRIARCHATES

On Thursday and Friday, September 1-2, 2011, His All-Holiness presided over deliberations for the Synaxis of the Heads of the ancient Patriarchates and the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus at the Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar. In attendance were Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and […]

US AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA AT HALKI

On Saturday, September 17, 2011, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, His Excellency Francis Ricciardone and his wife were welcomed by Metropolitan Geron Apostolos of Derkoi and Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Proussa at the Holy Theological School of Halki. (Photo by N. Manginas) (Photo by N. Manginas) (Photo by N. Manginas) (Photo by N. Manginas) (Photo by […]