Phanar head reminds Jerusalem Church of Constantinople’s historical support

Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidona kisses the hand of Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Facebook of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On October 22, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, during a service marking the patronal feast of the Church of Jerusalem, gave a detailed account of the historical support the Ecumenical Patriarchate has provided to the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, UOJ in Greece reports.

The patriarch presided over Vespers at the Church of Saint George in the Neochori district on the Bosporus – the Representation of the Holy Sepulchre in Istanbul. The feast was dedicated to Saint James the Apostle, the Brother of the Lord and the first Bishop of Jerusalem.

In his address to Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidona, representative of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Istanbul, the head of the Church of Constantinople elaborated on how the “Primatial Church of the Orthodox” had supported the Patriarchate of Jerusalem throughout the centuries.

Patriarch Bartholomew recalled Constantinople’s intercessions before Byzantine emperors and the Ottoman Porte in defense of the rights of the Jerusalem Patriarchate; its participation in the election of Jerusalem patriarchs, which during difficult times was carried out in Constantinople under the oversight of the Ecumenical Throne; and how Constantinople allowed the Holy Sepulchre to collect donations within its jurisdiction and to establish its representations there.

The Patriarch paid special attention to Constantinople’s financial aid in resolving the “economic difficulties” of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, which were connected with the struggle against proselytism.

“All these are continual expressions of the duty of the Most Venerable Ecumenical Throne toward the Church of Sion,” Patriarch Bartholomew stated, using a phrase that underscored the protective role of Constantinople.

The Ecumenical Patriarch assured that Constantinople would continue to offer its support:
“Today, in the future, and always, we stand ready to bear living witness to our fraternal sentiments and to continue this venerable tradition of offering every kind of assistance and aid to the sister Church of Jerusalem.”

Against the backdrop of his reminder of Constantinople’s historical benefactions, Patriarch Bartholomew once again renewed his invitation to Patriarch Theophilos to take part in the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council on November 28 in Nicaea, together with the Pope of Rome and the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch.

“At this historic event – a visible manifestation of the unity of Eastern and Western Christianity, of the Pentarchy of the Patriarchs – we cannot imagine the absence of the successor of James, the Brother of the Lord,” said the Patriarch of Constantinople.

He added that he “expects a positive response” to the invitation and called upon the Jerusalem Primate to show “historic responsibility” for unity.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Vatican and the Ecumenical Patriarchate had announced the Pope’s upcoming visit to Turkey.

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