Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

The organizers of the Ukraine Peace Summit, held earlier this month in Switzerland, removed the Ecumenical Patriarchate from the list of signatories of its final statement following protests from Turkey, according to reports. 

The fate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople based in Istanbul was discussed by more than 290 archons from 22 different countries during the 4th International Conference on Religious Freedom, in Athens this week.

Former US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said he hopes that Turkey will revise its decision to convert the Chora church from a museum into a mosque.

With a focus on the theme of "Protecting Religious Freedom, Democracy & Human Rights," the 4th International Conference on Religious Freedom, organized by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, started in Athens on Sunday and ends Tuesday.

As the 4th International Conference of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate focused on protecting religious freedom and ensuring the future of the Patriarchate, as well as the first Global Summit of Archons that will follow, got under way in Athens, there is a lingering challenge for those who care about the future of the Greek Orthodox Church, but also of Hellenism in general; how to ach

Archons from all over the world, including Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia, are converging upon Athens for the 4th International Archon Conference, "Protecting Religious Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights" (May 26-28).

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate note with dismay and strongly condemn Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to proceed with plans to convert the Monastery of Chora to a mosque.

"This is yet another contemptuous act against religious freedom perpetrated by the government of Turkey," the Archons said in a statement on Wednesday.

Easter and its central message of the resurrection "serves as the motivation for the struggle against the presence of evil and its consequences in the world, acting as a powerful transformative force," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has said in his Easter encyclical.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. 

According to French diplomatic sources, Macron is anticipated to "commend the Patriarch's dedication to interfaith dialogue and tolerance." 

President Macron is expected to acknowledge the commitment of the Ecumenical Patriarch to interfaith dialogue and tolerance