Constantinople Patriarchate bishop prays with Catholics and Lutherans in Germany

Ecumenical prayer service in Würzburg. Photo: tasthyras.wordpress.com

Bishop Emmanuel of Christoupolis of the Constantinople Patriarchate attended an ecumenical service during the Catholic Congress in Würzburg, Germany, on May 15, 2026, according to the Greek edition of the UOJ.

The service was held in the city's cathedral under the motto, “Take Courage, Rise Up!” The representative of the Phanar prayed alongside representatives of various Christian denominations, including Dr. Gerhard Feige and Pastor Christopher Easthill.

The sermon was delivered by Professor Cornelia Richter, who holds the title of bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austria. In her address, she emphasized the importance of Christian narratives of hope as positive models for society.

The service concluded with a symbolic distribution of climbing carabiners to those in attendance. Organizers described the mountaineering equipment as a symbol of support and trust offered by the community.

The event was presented as evidence that ecumenism flourishes through shared experience and a common conviction that faith can unite people. At the same time, organizers stressed the social character of the initiative and said it was not intended to carry profound doctrinal significance.

The participation of an Orthodox hierarch in a joint prayer service with Catholics and Protestants once again sparked discussion about the boundaries of the ecumenical movement within the Orthodox world.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Patriarch Bartholomew attended a Mass marking the anniversary of Pope Leo’s election.

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