wfn.org | President Bush meets with Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Bartholomew

                    GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
    8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021  Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212)
                                  774-0215
         Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2002
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos
c- 917-903-1255

      President Bush, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Discuss Role of
                                Patriarchate
  in Advancing Understanding Among Religions Following September 11 Attacks

Washington, D.C. ? President George W. Bush and Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew discussed the future  role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
advancing communication and understanding between religions in the
aftermath of the September 11th terrorist strike, during a meeting in the
Oval Office this afternoon.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians
worldwide, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, is in the United States for a
6-day visit to Washington, D.C., Boston and New York City.  He was
accompanied to the White House by Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the
Greek Orthodox Church in America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate:
Archbishop Leo of Karelin and All Finland: Archbishop Gennadios of Italy;
Metropolitan Apostolos of the Patriarchal Hierarchy; Michael Jaharis, Vice
Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council and Alex Spanos.

President Bush, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios
had a 30-minute private meeting before being joined by the other members of
the entourage.

Stressing the special role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in coordinating
pan-Orthodox concerns worldwide, His All Holiness said at a press
conference following the White House meeting, that he requested support in
securing "freedom of action, so that the Ecumenical Patriarchate can
fulfill its spiritual, religious and cultural mission."

In that context, the Ecumenical Patriarch asked President Bush for American
support in securing the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, which
the Turkish government has shut down since 1971.