Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Meets With King of Spain

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain on 16 October 2023.They conferred at the Palace of Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid,the offices of the Spanish monarch.Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Vessarion of Spain and Portugal.Spain's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the EU and Collaboration,Mr.Luis Cuesta,also attended the meeting,which took place in a cordial atmosphere.*The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked His Majesty for Spain's interest in the Ecumenical Patriarchate,especially in the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal.Patriarch Bartholomew told King Felipe,who is Roman Catholic,about the priorities of his ecumenical mission and the ministry of the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople.They also discussed the horribly tragic conflicts in Ukraine and the Mideast.* King Felipe congratulated His All-Holiness for receiving an honorary Doctor of Theology degree from the Pontifical University of Salamanca,Spain,as well as for the recent anniversaries of the founding of the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St.Andrew the First-called and St.Dimitrios in Madrid.His Majesty and family actually live in the Pabellon de Principe,the Pavillion of the Prince,referring to when he was the Prince of Asturias,heir apparent to the Spanish monarchy.The Palace Real in Madrid is used for state occasions.*At the end of their meeting,which lasted 45 minutes,the King and Patriarch exchanged gifts and posed for commemorative photos.*After Spain,the Ecumenical Patriarch is making an official visit to Monaco,which is part of the Holy Metropolis of France,from 18-21 October.

Ecumenical Patriarch to Visit Madrid,Spain

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is to make an official visit to the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal from 14-18 October 2023.The purpose of the visit is primarily to celebrate two anniversaries.First is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal.Secondly is the 50th anniversary of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St.Andrew the First-Called and St.Dimitrios.Patriarch Bartholomew will preside at a Patriarchal Horostasis (Divine Liturgy) at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday 15 October.The Holy Metropolis is currently led by His Eminence Metropolitan Vessarion of Spain and Portugal,who extended the invitation to Patriarch Bartholomew.* Customarily,an official Patriarchal visit also includes an environmental activity and a private meeting with local and national political figures.Patriarch Bartholomew travels by private business jet.

Ecumenical Patriarch Plans Fall Visits - plus a deposed Russian Orthodox priest is restored

In September,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will make an official visit to the Baltic State of Estonia to mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church,an autonomous Church within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.In October,he will visit Madrid,Spain to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts.Andreas and Dimitrios.His Eminence Vessarion is Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal.* A Russian Orthodox priest,Father Ioannis Koval,who had been deposed only because he opposed Putin's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine,has been restored by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and taken under its jurisdiction.He was personally received by Patriarch Bartholomew when he was invited to visit the Phanar,or Lantern,the Patriarchal compound in Constantinople (Istanbul,Turkey).