On Saturday, June 1, 2013, His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X (Yazigi), the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East made his first official visit to His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople. This is the first in a series of visits to the heads of the local Orthodox Churches following the Patriarch of Antioch’s election. Patriarch John X and his delegation arrived at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar in Istanbul on Saturday morning, where he was welcomed by the Grand Chancellor Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos. Following a brief service of thanksgiving in the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Patriarch John was warmly received by Patriarch Bartholomew in the Patriarchal Hall. After an exchange of letters of welcome, the two Patriarchs and their entourages traveled to the nearby island of Halki to visit the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and the Institute of Theology of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate. There they were received by the Hegumenos of the Monastery and Dean of the Theological Institute, Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Bursa.

On Sunday, June 2, 2013, at Saint George Patriarchal Cathedral, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy together with Patriarch John  of Antioch.