Ecumenism

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will attend and speak at the "4th Archon International Conference of Religious Freedom" that will be held in Athens on 26-29 May 2024.

In 2019 the Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria recognised the independence of the newly formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has attempted to undermine not only the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but also the Patriarch of Alexandria, which claims exclusive jurisdiction over Africa and accuses the Russian church of meddling in the continent.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni is to visit Istanbul on Monday. During her three-day stay, the minister will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, visit the new Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) offices and have contacts with businesspeople and tourism-sector organizations, such as the Turkey Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB).

After the "salvo" of the Holy (Monastic) Community against the visit of Archbishop of America Elpidophoros to Mt Athos, delivered on the occasion of the baptism of children of a Greek-American same-sex couple, the monastic community is going through days of solemnity due to the Christmas holidays, which are celebrated according to the old Julian calendar.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, exchanged wished for the new year, state-run news agency AMNA reported on Tuesday.

Ieronymos called Bartholomew on New Year's Eve with both leaders expressing hope that the much-desired peace would prevail in the war-torn and conflict-ridden world in 2024. 

The spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians said on Wednesday that Russia's powerful Orthodox Church shared responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine but that he stood ready to help in Russia's postwar "spiritual regeneration".

In what is seen as a blow to Moscow, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios stated on Tuesday that he will cooperate with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic country to ensure that people of faith are no longer only under the supervision of the Russian church.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Monday, extolling his efforts for dialogue with the Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Cleopas spoke about the venerable head of Orthodoxy, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The opening of St. Nicholas was one of the highlights of the twelve-day official visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States