Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Meets With World Leaders

On Tuesday 12 December 2023,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with two world leaders.First,in the morning,he met with President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto.Patriarch Bartholomew had been in Finland to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Orthodox Church of Finland's Autonomy within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.The talks with President Niinisto were chracterised as being cordial.Accompanying His All-Holiness were members of his entourage,including Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland;Metropolitan Athenogoras of Kydonia;Metropolitan Vissarion of Spain and Portugal;Metropolitan Gregory of Peristeri;and other clerics.For his part,members of President Niinisto's entourage were also present.* At noon,Patriarch Bartholomew crossed the Gulf Of Finland en route to Tallin,the capital of Estonia,for an eight day official visit to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Autonomy of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church,led today by Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallin and All Estonia,within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Both the Orthodox Church of Finland and Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church had requested independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in 1923.* Patriarch Bartholomew met with Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas upon his arrival in Tallin.She said:An honour to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Estonia.Your clear messages on why it's our duty to stand against aggression and support Ukraine are a powerful signal to the world.Your leadership on climate issues is critical.*

Ecumenical Patriarch to Visit Orthodox Churches of Finland and Estonia

His All-Holiness Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew is to visit the Orthodox Church of Finland from 8-12 September 2023.The visit will celebrate the Centenary of the OCF becoming an Autonomous Church within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Prior to 1923,the OCF belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate.* On 10 September,Patriarch Bartholomew will preside at the Divine Liturgy in the Uspensky (Dormition) Cathedral Church in the Finnish Capital Helsinki.* Patrairch Bartholomew had previously visited the OCF in 2000,2003,2010 and 2013.The current primate of the OCF is Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland. On 12 September,Patriarch Bartholomew and his entourage will depart for Estonia and a visit to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church.This visit will celebrate the Centenary of the EAOC becoming an Autonomous Church within the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1923.The EAOC also requested separation from the Moscow Patriarchate at that time.The current primate of the EAOC is Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallin and All Estonia.