Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

What is the Ecumenical Patriarchate

When the Great Schism occurred in the Christian Church in 1054, polarizing the Church into Eastern and Western entities, the Ecumenical Patriarchate emerged as the world center of the Eastern – or, more appropriately, Orthodox (“right worship” in Greek) Church, referring to its guardianship of the unchanged, essential tenets and practices of undivided Christianity.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople was recognized by other Orthodox hierarchs as primus inter pares – “first among equals.” Today, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Türkiye) continues to occupy the first place of honor among all the world’s Orthodox Christian Churches. The Ecumenical Patriarch has the historical, canonical, and theological responsibility to initiate and coordinate actions among all Orthodox Churches, whether under his jurisdiction, independent, or autonomous. This includes assembling and convening councils, facilitating inter-Orthodox, ecumenical, and interfaith dialogue, and addressing the issues of the day.

The Legacy of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Over the last twenty-five years, His All-Holiness has opened the Orthodox Church to the modern world with unparalleled initiatives, dialogues and ministries. Since ascending to the Ecumenical Throne on November 2nd, 1991, he has tirelessly pursued the vision of his enthronement message: spiritual revival, Orthodox unity, Christian reconciliation, interfaith tolerance and coexistence, protection of the environment and a world united in peace, justice, solidarity and love.

As Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew has helped the Church to grow on many fronts. Through dialogue and visitations, he has greatly advanced Orthodox relations with the Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, and others. His All-Holiness has also taken a highly active role in post-communist Eastern Europe by strengthening contacts and relations with various Orthodox national churches and through direct visits to several Orthodox nations, including Russia.

His All-Holiness is likewise an important voice calling for peace in various instances of global tragedy, demanding peace in the war on Ukraine and conflict in Gaza. Since the beginning of Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has spoken out courageously in defense of the freedom and sovereignty of the Ukrainian people. His All-Holiness has repeatedly called upon Russia to end its fratricidal war against its Orthodox Christian brethren, and to restore the peace of the region. On this year’s Feast of the Transfiguration, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew called the ongoing starvation of Gazans “a shame for the human race” and denounced the ongoing inhumane killings of Gazans.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew remains unafraid to speak out in the name of what is right. In a 2023 address to the Conference of European Churches, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople strongly criticized a “’new ecumenism” in the United States that champions “traditionalistic values.” “Some American evangelical Christians, who had previously considered Catholic and Orthodox Christians as pagans worshipping idols, now appear willing to work with certain Catholic and Orthodox Christians in order to support these values,” he said. “This ‘new ecumenism’ has even gone so far as to anoint President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation as its political champion, and Patriarch Kirill of the Orthodox Church of Russia as its spiritual leader…Unfortunately, this ‘new ecumenism’ is essentially un-ecumenical, if not anti-ecumenical, insofar as it positions itself against other Christians who do not support its exclusive focus on such a set of values.”

Interfaith and Ecumenical Collaboration

Ecumenical and interfaith collaboration has been a defining feature of the ministry of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Committed to building bridges between Christian denominations and among differing religious traditions, His All-Holiness has fostered deep relationships with fellow religious leaders and has consistently advocated for unity, mutual respect, and the protection of all people, regardless of faith.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis shared a close friendship. “We cooperated decisively for a greater rapprochement of our Churches” and “for the promotion of theological dialogue,” stated His All-Holiness shortly after he arrived in Rome on April 25 for the Pope’s funeral. “We worked with dedication for the further rapprochement of our Churches, to promote theological dialogue between us, to overcome difficulties, but above all to highlight all that unites us, so that this journey may lead us to the blessed day when we will once again share the Common Cup.”

After the election of Pope Leo XIV, His All-Holiness was welcomed to the Vatican and they both affirmed their dedication to continuing and strengthening the Orthodox-Catholic brotherly ties begun by Pope Francis and His All-Holiness. They mutually resolved to work together to protect the vulnerable and serve those most in need to promote peace worldwide.

His All-Holiness has also spoken with a firm voice against attacks on people of other faith traditions in Turkey. When violence targeted Constantinople’s Roman Catholic and Muslim communities in back-to-back incidents, His All-Holiness declared: “The recent tragic events that have afflicted both the Christian and Muslim communities of Constantinople serve as a reminder of our collective duty. Not only must we unequivocally condemn every form and manifestation of religious fundamentalism but we must also take proactive measures to prevent its emergence.”

The “Green Patriarch”

Known as the “Green Patriarch,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has taken the lead among all religious leaders in his concern for the environment. In 2008, he was one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for “defining environmentalism as a spiritual responsibility.” His All-Holiness has initiated seminars and dialogues to discuss the need for the mobilization of moral and spiritual forces to achieve harmony between humanity and nature.

During his official visit to the United States in 1997, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hosted an environmental symposium in Santa Barbara, California, where he was the first major religious leader to call the destruction of the environment a sin. His remarks were amplified by media around the world.

“Orthodox liturgy and life hold tangible answers to the ultimate questions concerning salvation from corruptibility and death. The Eucharist is at the very center of our worship and our sin toward the world, or the spiritual root of all our pollution, lies in our refusal to view life and the world as a sacrament of thanksgiving and as a gift of constant communion with God on a global scale,” His All-Holiness remarked.

In 2015, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officially opened the Eighth Religion, Science and the Environment (RSE) Symposium, entitled “Restoring Balance: The Great Mississippi River. In his powerful opening address he stated, “we have reached a defining moment in our history…the point where absolute limits to our survival are being reached,” and that “instead of living on income, or the available surplus of the earth, we are consuming environmental capital and destroying its resources as if there is no tomorrow.”

At 85 years old, the Ecumenical Patriarch is still actively preaching and living out his message of sustainability. In May of 2025, His All-Holiness returned to his native island of Imbros, where he led a hands-on initiative to clean up the beach of Kefalos.