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His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and primus inter pares (“first among equals”) overseeing the global communion of Eastern Orthodox Churches, is the spiritual father and pastoral leader of hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians throughout the world. For nearly thirty-five years, he has humbly and diligently served this apostolic ministry as a paragon of peace, a cheerful proponent of charity, and an unwavering voice counseling love and forgiveness amidst the often chaotic and confusing circumstances of contemporary life. Yet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is perhaps most well-known and highly regarded for his longstanding personal commitment to promoting global environmental stewardship and cultivating a genuinely Orthodox ecological consciousness, nurtured by ancient spiritual practices and rooted in timeless evangelical imperatives.
In September 2025, His All-Holiness will visit the United States to receive the prestigious Templeton Prize. Since 1972, the Templeton Prize has been awarded to extraordinary individuals for their lifelong contributions to the reconciliation of science and religion in search of answers to life’s deepest and most consequential questions. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be the 55th recipient of the Templeton Prize. He joins trailblazing scientists like Dr. Jane Goodall (a close friend and collaborator), penetrating minds like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (a fellow Orthodox Christian), and prominent faith leaders representing the world’s major religions: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rabbi Lord Johnathan Sacks, and the Dalai Lama XIV, to name only a recent few. The official press release from the John Templeton Foundation announcing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s successful candidacy can be read here, accompanied by a short video introducing His All-Holiness. A wonderfully thoughtful and thorough article, “A Patriarch Who Loves Life,” penned by the journalist Annelise Jolley and published by the Templeton Foundation, can also be read here.
In addition to these resources, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s website hosts a page dedicated to information about our “Green Patriarch.” Some highlights include:
A video of Vice President Al Gore introducing His All-Holiness as the “Green Patriarch” during his first official visit to the U.S in 1997.
An archive of patriarchal encyclicals for the day of September 1st, marking the ecclesiastical new year (Indiction). Since 1989, Indiction has been celebrated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a Day of Prayer for Creation. His All-Holiness’ most recent Indiction encyclical from 2024 can be read here.
A joint message issued by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis on the World Day of Prayer for Creation in 2017. A more recent joint statement from 2021, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, can be read here.
Beyond the GOARCH website, there are other helpful online resources to learn more about the “Green Patriarch.” Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne and theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues, has written extensively over the past three decades on His All-Holiness’ pioneering efforts to bridge modern science and Orthodox spirituality. A concise yet detailed summary of these efforts can be read here. For families and children who wish to learn more about the Ecumenical Patriarch’s vision of Orthodox Christian care for creation, this Be the Bee video featuring His All-Holiness and Rev. Dr. Chryssavgis is an excellent place to start.
In the coming weeks, the Orthodox Observer will feature content that explores the considerable extent of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s ecological concern, showcasing especially many of the successful environmental initiatives he has spearheaded and the critical friendships and bonds of unity he has forged along the way.
Be sure to subscribe to the Orthodox Observer Newsletter and follow the Orthodox Observer on social media to stay updated in preparation for His All-Holiness’ historic visit this September.
Photo courtesy of Ecumenical Patriarchate/Nikos Manginas
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