Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

The Greek government has announced the creation of 600 new clerical positions to support the ancient patriarchates of Constantinople (in Turkey), Alexandria (in Egypt) and Jerusalem (in Israel), and the Monastery of Sinai in Egypt.

Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, has sent a letter to US President-elect Donald Trump congratulating him on his election and extending his wishes for health, strength, and success in his upcoming second term.

Environment-friendly behavior is integral to Greek Orthodox identity, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said during a speech on Sunday at an event focused on the Church and the environment, held at the Metropolis of Polyani and Kilkis in northern Greece.

The work of the Synax of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne in Constantinople began yesterday, 1 September, a day coinciding with the start of the new Church Year and now established by the Ecumenical Patria

The Constantinople-born diplomat, honorary ambassador Alexandros Alexandris, who had extensive knowledge of Greek-Turkish relations and specialized in minority issues, has passed away.

Alexandros Alexandros was born in Pera, Constantinople, and completed his education at the Great School of the Nation in Phanar.

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, during a working visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

After Lina Mendoni’s private meeting with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, they toured the excellently renovated building of the Patriarchal Urban School Marasli.

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued warnings about the effects of overtourism and climate change in a video message on Saturday at the Nisyros Dialogues organized by the George N. Michalos Foundation.

He stated that climate change is already a harsh reality and highlighted the need for immediate global action "regardless of geopolitical interests and other considerations."

Earlier this month, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - along with many other countries and organizations - attended the Ukraine Peace Summit. Nearly 80 countries issued a statement calling for the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia's two-year war. The Ecumenical Patriarch's signature was originally on that document.

Pope Francis has said he wanted to visit Turkey next year to celebrate the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church.

"It's a trip that I desire to go on, with all my heart," the pontiff told a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul, a Vatican statement said.