Ecumenical Patriarchate

Greek Metropolitan Iakovos welcomes collaboration with Ireland’s first Romanian Orthodox Bishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Ireland (Ecumenical Patriarchate), has expressed openness to collaborating with His Grace Bishop Nectarie, who is set to be enthroned on Saturday in Dublin as the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland. “I wish him all the best for the new assignment!” conveyed Metropolitan Iakovos…

Jan 8, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate canonises Eldress Gavrilia Papaianni

During its working session on Oct. 3, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate resolved to canonise Gerontissa Gavrilia Papaianni one day after marking her 126th birth anniversary. The decision to canonise St. Gavrilia was initiated by Patriarch Bartholomew and announced by the Metropolis of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalaia, which made the relevant appeal to…

Oct 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

HE Joachim of Bursa, message for the young ITO 2023 participants: „You are the torchbearers of our faith”

Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa transmitted a message for the closing of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO) 2023, held in Timișoara, Romania, between August 31 and September 3. His Eminence participated in the event personally, as the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and in the end left a message for the young participants, saying:…

Sep 6, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Metr. Joachim of Bursa: International Meeting of Orthodox Youth proves the unifying power of Orthodoxy

At the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO), “we are being given an excellent opportunity to realize the ecumenical dimension of Orthodoxy and its unifying power, but, on the other, for each of us to evaluate the richness of his/her own tradition,” said Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa on Friday in front of the 3,500 participants…

Sep 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel meets with Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on Saturday, August 12, 2023. The Metropolitan was accompanied by his brother, Protopresbyter Bernard Peckstadt, and Father Sorin Șelaru, the director of the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions in Brussels. His Beatitude Patriarch…

Aug 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate adds new saint to the Orthodox calendar: Elder Bessarion the Agathonite

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate added on Tuesday a new saint to the Orthodox calendar: Archimandrite Bessarion Korkoliakos, also called “the Merciful Elder”, abbot of the Agathonos Monastery († January 22). The saint was born in Messinia’s Petalidi, in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese Peninsula, in 1908 and was baptized Andreas. When he…

Jun 15, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Representatives of the Romanian Cultural Institute visited the Halki Seminary

Andrei Novac, secretary of state for the relationship with the Romanian Cultural Institute and for cultural policies, visited on Thursday the Halki Seminary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Romanian official was accompanied by Dragoș Tiberiu Niță, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul, Turkey. The guests were received by Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the…

May 20, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Ecumenical Patriarch’s message for Sept. 1: Respect for the environment is an act of doxology of God’s name

In his message at the beginning of the new church year, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew states that “respect for the environment is an act of doxology of God’s name, while the destruction of creation is an offense against the Creator, entirely irreconcilable with the basic tenets of Christian theology.” At the initiative of the Patriarchate of…

Aug 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate adds its voice: Keep Hagia Sophia a museum

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel told the Ecumenical Patriarch that the Romanian Patriarchate supports the preservation of the current status of the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Constantinople (Istanbul). The status of this symbol for Christianity is being re-discussed in Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has asked the Turkish authorities to keep the current museum status for the…

Jul 8, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTO: Sunday of Orthodoxy throughout the world

The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a feast celebrating the holy icons. On this Sunday, throughout the Orthodox world, these representations of saintly persons are at the centre of religious services and processions. In Constantinople, on the first Sunday of Great Lent, Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus. On this…

Mar 12, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Coronavirus: Ecumenical Patriarchate urges prudence, patience, and the avoidance of panic

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Wednesday urged prudence, patience and the avoidance of panic as the new coronavirus continues to spread and the number of confirmed cases rises throughout the world. In a communique signed by the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, the Patriarchate of Constantinople thanked all healthcare professionals and scientists…

Mar 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu