Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids His All Holiness Bartholomew
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew in 2022
Church	Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Diocese	Constantinople
See	Istanbul
Enthroned	2 November 1991
Predecessor	Demetrios I
Orders
Ordination	19 October 1969
Consecration	25 December 1973
Personal details
Birth name	Dimitrios Arhondonis (Δημήτριος Αρχοντώνης, Dimítrios Archontónis)
Born	(1940-02-29) 29 February 1940 (age 85) Agioi Theodoroi (Zeytinliköy), Imbros (Gökçeada), Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox
Residence	Fener, Istanbul, Turkey
Parents	Chrḗstos Archontṓnēs (father) Merópē Archontṓnēs (mother)
Alma mater	Patriarchal Theological School (Halki seminary)
Signature	${{{signature_alt}}}$
Coat of arms	${{{coat_of_arms_alt}}}$

Styles of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Reference style	His All Holiness
Spoken style	Your All Holiness
Posthumous style	N/A

Bartholomew (Greek: Βαρθολομαῖος, Bartholomaĩos; Turkish: Bartholomeos; born 29 February 1940) is a very important leader in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since November 2, 1991, he has been the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. This means he is seen as the "first among equals" among all the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches around the world. He is a spiritual guide for millions of Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Bartholomew was born as Dimitrios Arhondonis in a village called Agios Theodoros on the island of Imbros (now Gökçeada, Turkey). After finishing his studies, he became a priest at the Patriarchal Theological Seminary of Halki. He later served as a metropolitan (a type of bishop) for different areas. Before becoming Patriarch, he was also part of important church committees.

During his time as Patriarch, Bartholomew has worked hard to bring Orthodox churches closer together. He has also talked with leaders from other Christian groups, like Roman Catholics, and even with Muslim leaders. He often speaks about protecting human rights and promoting understanding between different religions. He is also known as "The Green Patriarch" because he cares a lot about the environment. In 2018, the Russian Orthodox Church stopped communicating with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This happened because of a disagreement over Bartholomew's decision to allow the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to become independent.

Early Life and Studies
- Becoming a Church Leader
His Time as Patriarch
Awards and Honors
See also

Early Life and Studies

Dimitrios Arhondonis was born in a village called Agioi Theodoroi on the island of Imbros, which is now Gökçeada, Turkey. His parents were Christos and Meropi Archodónis, and they were both Greek. He was the youngest of four children. As a boy, he helped his father in their coffee shop, which also worked as a barber's shop.

He started his schooling on Imbros. Then he went to high school at the Zografeion Lyceum in Istanbul. After that, he joined the Theological School of Halki, located on an island in the Sea of Marmara. There, he earned a special degree in theology. In 1961, he became a deacon, which is a step before becoming a priest. From 1961 to 1963, he served in the Turkish army.

After his military service, from 1963 to 1968, he continued his studies. He went to special schools in Rome, Switzerland, and Munich. He earned another advanced degree from Gregorian University in Rome. His studies focused on the rules and laws of the Orthodox Church. During this time, he also learned several languages, including Latin, Italian, French, English, and German.

Becoming a Church Leader

Here are the important steps in Bartholomew's journey to becoming a church leader:

13 August 1961: He became a deacon and received the church name Bartholomew.
19 October 1969: He became a priest.
25 December 1973: He became a bishop, serving as the Metropolitan of Philadelphia.
14 January 1990: He became the Metropolitan of Chalcedon.
22 October 1991: He was chosen to be the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and the ecumenical patriarch.
2 November 1991: He officially began his role as Patriarch in the main church in Phanar.

His Time as Patriarch

As the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew has been very active around the world. One of his first big goals was to help rebuild the Eastern Orthodox churches in countries that used to be part of the Eastern Bloc. These churches had faced difficulties when communism was in power. He worked to make the different national churches of the Eastern Orthodox Church stronger and more connected.

He has also continued important talks with the Roman Catholic Church. These talks were started by the Patriarchs before him. He also began conversations with other faiths, including other Christian groups, Muslims, and Jews.

United States President Barack Obama meets with Bartholomew.

Pope Francis and Bartholomew in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Caring for the Environment

Bartholomew is well-known for his strong support of environmental protection. He has used the influence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to support many international environmental causes. Because of this, people call him "the Green Patriarch" or "the Green Pope." In 2002, he received the Sophie Prize for his work on the environment. He also received the Congressional Gold Medal, which is a very high award given by the United States government.

Issues in Turkey

In an interview in 2006, Bartholomew talked about religious freedom in Turkey. He also spoke about the closing of the Halki seminary, a very important theological school. He said that as Turkish citizens, they pay taxes and serve in the military, and they want the same rights as others. He pointed out that Muslims have many places to study theology, but Orthodox Christians do not.

He also talked about his title, "Ecumenical Patriarch." This title has been used since the 6th century. He explained that the word "ecumenical" does not mean he has political power. He said he would never give up this title.

Talking with Other Churches

In November 2006, Pope Benedict XVI visited Istanbul at Bartholomew's invitation. The Pope joined in a special church service for St. Andrew, an important saint for the Church of Constantinople. This was the third time a Pope had visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In 2013, Bartholomew attended the special ceremony where Pope Francis became Pope. This was a very important moment because it was the first time an Eastern Orthodox leader had attended a Pope's inauguration since the Great Schism in 1054. The Great Schism was a major split between the Eastern and Western Christian churches. Later, Bartholomew invited Pope Francis to travel with him to the Holy Land in 2014. This trip marked 50 years since a famous meeting between Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI.

In 2013, there was a plan to harm Bartholomew, but one person was arrested, and the plot was stopped.

Helping Refugees and Promoting Peace

On April 16, 2016, Bartholomew visited the Moria Refugee Camp on the island of Lesbos. He went with Pope Francis and Archbishop Hieronymus to bring attention to the challenges faced by refugees. In December 2018, he visited the Korean DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). There, he prayed for lasting peace and for the two Koreas to reunite.

Independence for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Bartholomew with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, November 3, 2018.

In October 2018, the leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to grant "autocephaly" to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Autocephaly means that a church can govern itself and be independent. They also canceled an old agreement from 1686 that had given the Russian Orthodox Church control over the church in Ukraine. This decision also lifted bans on clergy and followers of two Orthodox churches in Ukraine that were not recognized before.

Because of this, the Russian Orthodox Church announced that it was cutting ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This event is known as the 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, which means a major split between the two churches. On January 5, 2019, Bartholomew officially granted independence to the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Relics of St. Peter

On July 2, 2019, it was announced that Pope Francis had given Bartholomew nine small bone fragments. These fragments are believed to belong to St. Peter, one of Jesus's apostles. Pope Francis had shown them publicly in 2013. Bartholomew also received the special container that holds them. He called the Pope's gift "brave and bold."

Macedonian Orthodox Church

In 2022, the Ecumenical Patriarchate welcomed the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archdiocese of Ohrid into full communion. This means they recognized North Macedonia as a proper church area.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Bartholomew with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in 2010.

Bartholomew has spoken out against both the Russian government and the Russian church regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He called the invasion a "crime of aggression." He said it has caused huge suffering for both Ukrainian and Russian people. He believes that the Russian church's teachings tried to justify an "unjust, unholy, unprovoked, diabolical war" against Ukraine.

Awards and Honors

Special Awards

Georgia: Order of the Golden Fleece
Georgia: Grand Collar of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia (2011)
Georgia: Order of Saint King David the Psalmist (2015)
Slovakia: Order of the White Double Cross (2013)
Ukraine: Order of Liberty (2013) and Order of Merit 1st class (2019)
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Lamb (1993)

University Degrees

He has received special honorary degrees from many universities around the world:

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea (2005)
Fordham University in the United States (2009)
The Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2017)
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine (2018)
University of Notre Dame in the United States (2021)
The University of Notre Dame Australia (2024)

Other Recognitions

On November 1, 2021, Bartholomew received the Human Dignity Award from the American Jewish Committee (AJC). This award recognized his care for people and the environment, his efforts to bring religions together, and his work to improve relations between Orthodox Christians and Jewish people.
In 2013, he received the Global Thinkers Forum Award for Excellence in Peace and Collaboration.
In 2012, he received the Four Freedoms Award for the Freedom of Worship.
In 1997, Bartholomew received the Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the United States.
In 2002, he received the Sophie Prize for his environmental work.
In April 2008, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2007, he received the "Cardinal König Prize" in Vienna.
In October 2022, he was one of the first religious leaders to meet with King Charles III.