Patriarchal Encyclical for the Holy and Great Lent
Our Orthodox Church recommends that, during this period of Great Lent, we focus our attention toward sincere repentance, “the melting pot of sin,” according to St. John Chrysostom. Repentance is the first topic of our Lord Jesus Christ’s preaching and the very essence of the Christian teaching. It is the Church’s daily invitation to us all. Despite this, many of us have not truly experienced repentance. We sometimes feel that it does not concern us personally because we do have not “come to ourselves” in order to comprehend and contemplate how we may have committed any sin.
Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2013
Many centuries ago, the Prophet foresaw and announced with enthusiasm and joy the birth of the child Jesus from the ever-Virgin Mary. Naturally, even then, there was no period of census by Augustus Caesar, no place to stay for the safety of the Holy Virgin who was carrying a child by the Holy Spirit. So the holy Joseph as her betrothed and protector was obliged to lead her to a cave, a manger with animals, “in order to give birth to a child.”
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the 2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom
With paternal joy and patriarchal satisfaction, from the Sacred Center of our Faith, we are delighted to address the Second International Conference on Religious Freedom organized and hosted by our cherished Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Patriarchal Encyclical for the Ecclesiastical New Year
We have come to September 1st, the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate and subsequently the entire Orthodox Church designated as a day of prayer for the natural environment. Since then, as a result of this initiative, the interest in protecting the natural environment has expanded more broadly and numerous measures are now taken for the sustainability and balance of the earth’s ecosystems as well as for all related problems.
Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2013
The proclamation of the Resurrection by the myrrh-bearing women to the disciples of Christ was considered delirious. Yet, the word, formerly conceived as delirious, was confirmed as Truth. The risen Lord appeared to His disciples on several occasions.
2013 Catechetical Homily of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Beginning of Great Lent
The holy fathers, who arranged everything in an orderly manner, instituted a period of ascetic discipline and spiritual purification for forty days prior to the great feast of the Lord’s resurrection. This ascetic rule assumes the form of a limitation on foods through fasting, but especially an abstinence from evil.
Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas in English and Chinese
+ BARTHOLOMEW By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome And Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Mercy and Peace From the Savior Christ Born in Bethlehem * * * “Christ is born, glorify Him; Christ is on earth, exalt Him.” Let us rejoice in gladness for the ineffable condescension of […]
Patriarchal Encyclical for the Indiction and the Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment
Prot. No. 718 + BARTHOLOMEW By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome And Ecumenical Patriarch To the Fullness of the Church Grace and Peace from the Creator and Sustainer of All Creation Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ * * * Beloved brothers and children in the Lord, Our God, who created […]
Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2012
Prot. No. 237 BARTHOLOMEW By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy from the Savior Christ, Risen in Glory He became the first-born among the dead. (Easter Apolytikion, 3rd tone) Beloved children in the Lord, If Christ’s Resurrection referred […]
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Phanar
On Saturday afternoon, March 3, 2012, His All-Holiness received the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Ahmet Davutoğlu at the Phanar. This was the first such visit by a Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Among those in attendance were Metropolitan Geron Constantine of Nicaea, Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos […]