Welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Floor Speech

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Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, today I rise to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to our Nation's Capital. Visiting from Greece, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th archbishop of the 2000-year-old church founded by the Apostle Andrew. He has demonstrated extraordinary leadership within the Orthodox Christian community and across the global religious and environmental landscapes.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was ordained as a deacon in 1961 and a priest in 1969. Throughout his ministry, he served as an assistant dean of the Theological School of Halki, personal secretary to Patriarch Demetrios, Metropolitan of Philadelphia, and later Metropolitan of Chalcedon, before being elected ecumenical patriarch in 1991. He has steered spiritual unity among Orthodox Christians, convened the first Synaxis of Orthodox primates in 1992, supported the restoration of autonomous churches in Eastern Europe, and granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2019.

The Patriarch's role extends far beyond his ecclesial leadership. Widely known as the ``Green Patriarch,'' he has pioneered the integration of ecological awareness with theological ethics, declaring environmental destruction a sin, establishing an annual Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation, and convening numerous international symposia blending faith, science, and environmental stewardship. His efforts have earned him global recognition, including the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Templeton Prize.

Patriarch Bartholomew's tireless work ethic and dedication has bridged religious traditions, championed interfaith dialogue, advanced environmental justice, and fostered unity among diverse Christian communities. On behalf of Nevada's Greek Orthodox community, it is an honor to welcome him to Washington, DC.

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