Pope Leo to visit Phanar for anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council
Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo. Photo: Vatican Press Service
On August 9, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the patronal feast of the Russian-speaking community of St. Panteleimon in Istanbul, where he announced the visit of Pope Leo to the Phanar.
“His Holiness Pope Leo, who is also the head of state, will first travel to Ankara to greet the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Erdoğan, and then come here to join him in visiting Nicaea, where the First Ecumenical Council was held. After that, he will come to our Patriarchate to attend the Divine Liturgy of Saint Andrew the First-Called,” Patriarch Bartholomew said.
He recalled that “we are engaged in theological dialogue with the sister Catholic Church, the aim of which is to achieve the unity of divided Christians.”
The Patriarch extended greetings on the feast of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon to all Russian-speaking Orthodox Christians of Istanbul, as well as to the Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos headed by Abbot Eulogios.
“We love you, our devout Russian-speaking brothers living here in this city. We love all our Orthodox brothers – Russian-speaking, Georgian-speaking, Romanian-speaking, Ukrainian-speaking – living in various cities of our country. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the Mother Church, and, like a mother, it embraces all its children, all Orthodox Christians,” Patriarch Bartholomew assured.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Pope announced a trip to Türkiye for the anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.
Read also
DESS head: Revival of Judaism in Ukraine is a true miracle
Viktor Yelensky opened a school for Jewish boys in Anativka.
Metropolitan Onuphry shares how Saint Nicholas leads people to faith
In his sermon on the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas, the Primate of the UOC gave an example of a Soviet family that turned to the saint in despair and found faith.
Priest of Pokrovsk Vicariate of UOC killed in Kostiantynivka shelling
Archpriest Valeriy Voskresensky consciously remained at his parish in the Donetsk region, despite the constant threat of shelling.
Verkhovna Rada to consider bill on pornography decriminalization
The bill on decriminalizing pornography proposes to remove criminal liability for the production and distribution of pornography between adults.
Metropolitan Onuphry leads Liturgy at Intercession Monastery of Kyiv
On the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas's Cathedral of the Intercession Monastery and offered prayers for peace in the Ukrainian land.
Persecuted community of Verkhni Stanivtsi celebrates archpastoral Liturgy
For the second year in a row, the parishioners have been celebrating their patronal feast day outside the walls of their church, which was seized by OCU supporters with police backing in April 2025.