Patriarch Bartholomew I

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (born Demetrios Archontonis on February 29, 1940) has been the Patriarch of Constantinople, and thus "first among equals" in the Eastern Orthodox Communion, since November 2, 1991.

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He was born on G?k?eada (Imbros to its Greek inhabitants), an island in the Aegean Sea belonging to Turkey. By citizenship he is Turkish, but belongs ethnically to the small remnants of the Greek community in Turkey (see Treaty of Lausanne).

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As Ecumenical Patriarch, he has been particularly active internationally. One of his first focuses has been on rebuilding the once-persecuted Eastern Orthodox Churches of the former Eastern Bloc following the fall of Communism there in 1990. As part of this effort he has worked to strengthen ties amongst the various national Churches and Patriarchates of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. He has also continued the reconciliation dialogues with the Roman Catholic Church started by his predecessors, and initiated dialogues with other faiths, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sects.

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Perhaps most unusually, he has gained a reputation as a prominent environmentalist, putting the support of the Patriarchate behind various international environmental causes. This has earned him the nickname "the Green Patriarch".

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1940: 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar)....

Patriarch of Constantinople: The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, the "first among equals" in the Eastern Orthodox communion. In this capacity he is first in honor among all the Orthodox bishops, presides over any council of bishops in which he takes part and serves as primary spokesman for the communio...

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Patriarch Bartholomew I related Images and Photos (experimental)

Bartholomew Fair	Bartholomew Roberts	Freddie Bartholomew	Bartholomew Diaz Portuguese Navigator Sails to the Cape
Saint Bartholomew the Master of Elderkin	St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre 24th August 1572	Scene from St Bartholomew's Night 1870	Bessarion Latin Patriarch of Constantinople
Captains Courageous Freddie Bartholomew Spencer Tracy 1937	The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew	The Piratical Career of Bartholomew Roberts is Brought to an End	Lloyds of London Freddie Bartholomew Tyrone Power Madeleine Carroll on Midget Window Card 1936