Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop John of Albania concelebrate in historic Cappadocia church

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and His Beatitude Archbishop John of Albania concelebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Church of Saint Theodore Tyron in the town of Malakope (Derinkuyu), near an underground city once inhabited by Cappadocian Christians. “Coming here and celebrating the Mystery of the Church through the Divine Eucharist, we…

May 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch to journalists: Good is the news, and good news stands at the centre of the Christian life

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said last week during a visit to the Athens headquarters of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation that, contrary to a common journalistic view, “good itself is the news”. “According to a journalistic opinion which we personally do not share, news does not hide in goodness, and goodness does not constitute…

May 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew encourages promotion of Romanian cultural values during meeting with ICR Istanbul Director

Dragoș Tiberiu Niță, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute Dimitrie Cantemir Istanbul, met on Wednesday with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. In a post on his personal Facebook page, Dragoș Tiberiu Niță said the Ecumenical Patriarch encouraged him to continue “promoting Romanian cultural and spiritual values in an international context.” He added…

Apr 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew receives Patriarch John X of Antioch at the Phanar

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople received on Tuesday His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar district of Constantinople. The visit took place as Patriarch John X wished to convey his Paschal greetings personally to the Ecumenical Patriarch, following an invitation from Patriarch Bartholomew. The Primate…

Apr 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew calls Resurrection message a ‘gospel of peace’ in Easter address

“The message of the Cross and the Resurrection resounds today as a Gospel of peace, reconciliation, and justice,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said in his Easter pastoral message. His All-Holiness stressed the profound significance of the Resurrection, describing it as “the manifest victory of life over death, renews all creation, and opens to humanity the…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew says Akathist Hymn is ‘magnificent ode to freedom’ at Constantinople Conference

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said the Akathist Hymn is “a magnificent ode to freedom” at the opening of a conference marking 1,400 years since its first chanting. The event took place on Thursday, March 26, at the Marasli Patriarchal Urban School in Istanbul, Turkey, and was attended by hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, clergy, diplomatic…

Apr 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch says no one identified more with Georgia than Patriarch Ilia II

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on Sunday in Tbilisi that no one had identified more closely with Georgia than Patriarch Ilia II of blessed memory. In his address at the funeral service for Patriarch Ilia, His All-Holiness underscored the magnitude of the loss, stating: “How could we not deeply mourn the departure of…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Tens of thousands attend funeral of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II

The funeral of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia took place on Sunday at 12:30 local time, drawing tens of thousands of mourners. The burial service was officiated by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, concelebrating with Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (Mujiri), Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, together…

Mar 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch says asceticism leads to genuine freedom in Great Lent message

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has issued a catechetical homily ahead of Great Lent 2026, emphasising that ascetic struggle — properly understood — reveals the true freedom of the Christian life. In his message, made public by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarch Bartholomew described Great Lent as a time for repentance, prayer, humility and spiritual vigilance,…

Feb 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Icons donated by Ecumenical and Bulgarian patriarchs arrive at Bulgaria’s Antarctic research base

An icon of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, donated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and an icon of the Mother of God with the Child, donated by Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, were placed on Tuesday in the new laboratory of Bulgaria’s “St. Clement of Ohrid” research base on Livingston Island, in Antarctica. The icon…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew calls euthanasia a complex moral challenge

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said euthanasia is “one of the most delicate and complex contemporary issues our societies are called to confront,” speaking last week at an international conference held at the Phanar. The conference, titled “Good Living – Decisions at the End of Life,” took place on December 19–20 under the auspices of the…

Dec 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu