Archdiocese of Australia to honor Ecumenical Patriarch on 35th Anniversary of his Election

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia will organize a special commemorative event in Constantinople on Thursday, October 22, 2026, marking the 35th anniversary of the election of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Ecumenical Throne.

The event, titled “In Him Was Life, and the Life Was the Light,” is an initiative of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of Australia and will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Cevahir Hotel & Convention Center in the Şişli district of Constantinople.

The commemoration will pay tribute to the Ecumenical Patriarch’s life and 35 years of patriarchal ministry, highlighting significant milestones in his personal and ecclesiastical journey.

Particular emphasis will be placed on his contributions to the Orthodox Church, the preservation of the Orthodox faith and ecclesiastical tradition, inter-Christian and interreligious dialogue, peace, and environmental protection.

The event will draw inspiration from a poem written and set to music in honor of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Its title is taken from the Gospel of John (1:4), reflecting the spiritual significance of his ministry.

The program will be presented by young…