Bartholomew

Istanbul's Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew met with senior officials including President Joe Biden during his 12-day visit to the U.S. 

Biden and Bartholomew "discussed efforts to confront climate change, steps to end the global COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right," according to a statement from the White House.

Istanbul's Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew has been hospitalized in the U.S. capital Washington DC.

Bartholomew arrived in the U.S. on Saturday on a 12-day visit that includes a meeting with President Joe Biden.

An event at Istanbul's historic Büyükada Greek Orthodox Orphanage, which has been closed since 1964, called for cooperation to launch a massive restoration project for the iconic building.

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Turkey will deliver icons stolen from historical local churches to Istanbul's Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, the government said on Aug. 9. 

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The Holy Synod, the decision-making body of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, has removed the Metropolitan of Chalcedon, currently known as the Kadıköy district in Istanbul, over his alleged disobedience and disrespect to Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

However, a closer look shows that Putin and Erdogan both see the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an extension of Western influence that threatens their respective political ambitions.

Ukraine as catalyst of Moscow's fury

Orthodox church in Moscow, Russia, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/YURI KOCHETKOV

The Cypriot Orthodox Church's top decision-making body on Wednesday backed the Archbishop's move to effectively recognize the new Ukrainian Orthodox Church's independence, overturning an earlier position of neutrality on the thorny issue.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with Pope Francis about the global challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic and invited him to visit Greece when corcumstances allow it, his office said on Wednesday.

Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew on April 25, greeted the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with wishes of health, peace and tranquility.

"We pray that Allah will accept your fasts and prayers," he said. "We wish you to celebrate your holy Ramadan feast with enthusiasm and love a month hence."

Sahak Maşalyan (Mashalian), the 85th Patriarch of Turkey's Armenians, was enthroned as Sahak II in a ceremony held at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchate Church in Istanbul on Jan 11.

Born in 1962 in Istanbul with the Turkish name Şahin Maşalı, he was ordained a priest in 1992, receiving the name Sahak.