Ecumenical patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church to visit Cuba

Ecumenical patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church to visit Cuba

His Holiness Bartholomew I, leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians
from all over the world, arrives in Cuba this Wednesday, in response to
an invitation from President Fidel Castro.

The patriarch is to have official talks with the Cuban leader and will
consecrate a small but symbolically important building, San Nicolµs
Cathedral in Old Havana. During his stay he will also visit places of
cultural and social interest in the capital.

As the ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew is the 270th successor of the
Apostle Andrew. His Holiness was born on February 29, 1940 in Turkey, in
the town of Aghioi Theodoroi on the island of Egea de Imvros. Since his
ascent to the Ecumenical Throne on November 2, 1991, he has preached
orthodox unity, Christian conciliation and inter-religious tolerance
within a world based on the precepts of peace, justice, solidarity and love.

His Holiness is a defender of the environment and instituted September 1
every year as the occasion for annual messages on the care of the
planet. Given that vocation he is known as the Green Patriarch.

Bartholomew speaks seven languages fluently: Greek, English, Turkish,
Italian, Latin, French and German. He did his early studies in his
native town and secondary education in the city of Constantinople. He
entered the Halki Theological College and graduated in 1961.

He was appointed deacon of the Cathedral of Imvros on August 13, 1961 by
his spiritual father, the Bishop of Imvros and Tenedos, where he
received the name of Bartholomew. He did his military service as an
officer from 1961-63.

He took postgraduate studies at the Swiss Ecumenical Institute and at
the University of Munich, where he specialized in Canonic Law, and
obtained a doctorate from the Gregorian University of Rome.

When he returned to Constantinople he was appointed as assistant
director of the Sacred Theological College of Halki and ordained as a
priest in 1968. Six months later he received the title of Superior of
the Athenagoras I Patriarch.

He was elected Patriarch in 1972 and one year later was nominated
Archbishop of Philadelphia, Asia Minor, but remained at the head of the
Private Secretariat of the Patriarch until being appointed Metropolitan
leader of Calcedonia in January 1990. From March 1974 to his ascent to
the Ecumenical Throne he was a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod.

He was vice president of the World Council of Churches¢ Faith and Order
Committee and a founder member of the Eastern Churches Law Society.

In order to promote Orthodox relations with Roman Catholics and
Protestants he has visited other Christian churches and international
inter-Christian agencies in various nations.

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