Archbishop Of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch

Source: patriarchate.org

Born Demetrios Archondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gökçeada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by St. Andrew, serving as Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.

The personal experience and theological formation of the Ecumenical Patriarch provide him with a unique perspective on ecumenical relations and environmental issues. His All-Holiness has worked tirelessly for reconciliation among Christian Churches and acquired an international reputation for raising ecological awareness on a global level. He has worked to advance reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, as well as other Christian confessions, through theological dialogues and personal encounters with respective leaders in order to address issues of common concern. Closely involved with the World Council of Churches, he has served on its Executive and Central Committees and Faith and Order Commission. Moreover, he has initiated numerous international meetings and conversations with Muslim and Jewish leaders in an effort to promote mutual respect and religious tolerance worldwide, but especially in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, thereby proving a pioneer in interfaith encounters throughout the world. Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarch has presided over the historic restoration of the Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Autonomous Church of Estonia, also providing spiritual and moral support to many traditional Orthodox countries emerging from decades of wide-scale religious persecution behind the Iron Curtain.

A citizen of Turkey, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received his elementary and secondary education in Imvros and Istanbul. After completing undergraduate studies at the Theological School of Halki, Istanbul, His All-Holiness pursued graduate studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of the Gregorian University in Rome, the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey (Switzerland) and the University of Munich. His doctoral dissertation was in the field of Canon Law; he was a founding member of the Society of Canon Law of the Oriental Churches. Ordained to the Diaconate in 1961 and to the Priesthood in 1969, he served as Assistant Dean at the Theological School of Halki (1968-72) before being appointed Personal Secretary to his predecessor, the late Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios (1972-90), as well as being elected Metropolitan of Philadelphia (1973) and, later, Metropolitan of Chalcedon (1990).

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew holds numerous honorary doctorates, from prestigious academic institutions such as the universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Ioannina (in Greece), Georgetown and Yale (in the USA), Flinders and Manila (in Australasia), London, Edinburgh, Louvain, Moscow, Bologna and Bucharest (in Europe). He speaks Greek, Turkish, Italian, German, French and English; he is also fluent in classical Greek and Latin.

The role of the Ecumenical Patriarch as the primary spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian world and transnational figure of global significance continues to prove increasingly vital. His All-Holiness has co-sponsored international peace conferences, as well as meetings on the subjects of racism and fundamentalism, bringing together Jews, Christians and Muslims for the purpose of generating greater cooperation and mutual understanding. He has been invited to address the European Parliament, UNESCO, the World Economic Forum, as well as numerous national parliaments. He has organized eight international, inter-faith and inter-disciplinary symposia, as well as numerous seminars and summits, to address ecological problems in the rivers and seas of the world, initiatives earning him the title "Green Patriarch" and the award of several significant environmental awards.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's tenure has been characterized by inter-Orthodox cooperation, inter-Christian and inter-religious dialogue, as well as by formal trips to Orthodox and Muslim countries seldom previously visited. He has exchanged numerous invitations with Church and State dignitaries. His efforts to promote religious freedom and human rights, his initiatives to advance religious tolerance among the world's religions, together with his work toward international peace and environmental protection have justly placed him at the forefront of global visionaries, peacemakers and bridge-builders as an apostle of love, peace and reconciliation. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress.

His All-Holiness celebrates his Name Day on the Feast of Saints Bartholomew and Barnabas, June 11.

Fr. Vasilios was born on May 8, 1976, in New Jersey but grew up in Athens, Greece. His parents, Nikolaos and Kalliope Louros, were both born in the village Parparia on the island of Chios. He received his Bachelor's degree from Hellenic College which is in Brookline MA, and continued his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he received his Masters of Divinity in 2009. During his studies, he volunteered at the Filoxenia House in Boston, where he took part in supporting young children and families in multiple ways. These children usually had serious illnesses. He also volunteered in prison ministry, where he visited and supported incarcerated people, with Fr. Emmanuel Metaxa. On October 25, 1998, he married Chrisy Tsimis, and they welcomed their daughter Calliope Louros in 2002. Fr. Vasilios was ordained to the diaconate on October 18th 2009 by the Former Archbishop of America Geron Demetrios, who he also served with. He accompanied and served with the Former Archbishop for two years, and collected valuable experiences and spiritual lessons which he still holds on to. On March 19th, 2011, he was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St Demetrios Astoria, and began his work, serving the numerous spiritual needs of the famous community. He received the title of Economos on October 26th, 2018. He developed the young adult group (YAL) at St Demetrios as well as the Circle for Contemplating Holy Scripture for the youth (Young Adult Bible Class). In this group, the young adults were able to understand both the Old and New Testament, were able to express their concerns from everyday life, and were able to dive into the spiritual wealth of our Orthodox faith. He also served in the Church’s Sunday School program, introducing the children to the various teachings of the Church and the faith. In the same framework of activities, he organized the annual Oratorical Festival at St Demetrios, and taught Religion at the Church’s Prep School. Concerning philanthropic works, Fr. Vasilios organized and led the youth of the Church at winter excursions of love and service by offering food and clothing to people in the difficult and urban area of Manhattan, who found themselves in need of food and support. Fr. Vasilios would also visit the Queens Mt. Sinai Hospital and the NYC Rehab Nursing Home of Astoria very frequently. During his time at St Demetrios, he also led pilgrimages to Jerusalem, to the monastery of Holy Protection in Pennsylvania, as well as trips to Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts. Expanding his pastoral offerings, Fr. Vasilios offers live talks on the radio station Hellas FM, and the broadcast “The Voice of the Holy Archdiocese of America” as well as the TV station of the Greek Orthodox Church on Hellas TV. In the past, he has been interviewed for NBC News, as well as other Greek news websites. In 2017, Fr. Vasilios was given the liturgical responsibility for the yearly celebration of St Markella at the chapel dedicated to her in Monticello, NY. In December 2020, Fr. Vasilios was given the liturgical responsibility for the renowned Holy Orthodox Community of Zoodohos Peghe in the Bronx, NY. As for his interests, he enjoys reading and analyzing Scripture, the texts and homilies of the Church Fathers, assisting in the cultivation of the spiritual lives of the youth, and enjoys having quality time with his family, who support him in his Pastoral work.