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Children from Romania, received by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomewtranslated

July 8, 2026 · 1 min read

A group of children from Romania, hosted in the Patriarchal Children's Camp on Prinkipo Island (Büyükada), visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Tuesday, where they were received by His Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch, informs Orthodoxy News Agency.

During the excursion organized on the Bosphorus, the children made several stops at important historical and religious sites in Constantinople. The first visit was to the Church of the Holy Martyr Foca in Ortaköy, where they worshiped and learned about the history of the place of worship. The program continued in the Eminönü Square area and the Egyptian Bazaar.

The participants then visited the recently restored Panagia Balinuo Church, where they listened to the presentation of the history of the church and the activities carried out by the local community. The representatives of the parish, led by the president Simeon Soltaridis, welcomed them with hospitality and provided them with the necessary means of transportation.

The central point of the day was the visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. After a short stop at the historic Great School of the Nation in Fanar and a presentation about the Greek community in Constantinople and its activity, the children have…

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Михаил Белов

It’s good that the children were taken to Ortakoy to see Saint Phocas and to the restored Panagia Balina. It is interesting that they were told about the Greek community in Phanar after they had already visited the Patriarchate itself with Patriarch Bartholomew.

Дарко Николовски

Good that the children were in the church of St. Foca in Ortakoy and in the restored Panagia Ballino. It is interesting to me what exactly they told them about the Greek community in Phanar, especially after they had previously been to Patriarch Bartholomew. I hope it will remain in their memory.

Константин Козлов

It is good that the children were first taken to Ortakoy to Saint Phocas and to the restored Panagia Balina, and only then to the Patriarchate itself. It’s interesting what they were told about the Greek community in Phanar after the meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew - it probably turned out lively and to the point. I hope the guys remember this for a long time.

Анастасия Попова

I agree, the order turned out to be successful - first, living churches with history, and only then the Patriarchate. In our Sunday school, we also try to first show the children something tangible, and then explain it. I wonder how the children reacted to the meeting with the Patriarch, Konstantin, did they not write in the reports?