wfn.org | Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Receives Environment Award

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
April 22, 2002
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos

                      ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW
                    RECEIVES SECOND AWARD ON ENVIRONMENT,
                        PRIZE MONIES TO AID CHILDREN

Istanbul, April 17 - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been named as the
recipient  of  the 2002 Award of the Binding Institute of Liechtenstein for
his efforts toward the protection of nature and the environment. The award,
which  brings  50,000  Swiss Francs (equivalent of almost $30,000), will be
conferred upon His All Holiness at a ceremony in November in the capital of
the Principality in the presence of some 400 dignitaries.

The  award  was  the  second major recognition of the leadership of His All
Holiness  in  issues  relating to the environment. In the past week, it was
announced  that he had been named the winner of the Sophie Prize of Norway,
valued at $100,000, which will be awarded at a ceremony in Oslo on June 12,
2002.  With  regard to that award, the Ecumenical Patriarch announced today
that  the  monies  would  be  distributed  through  UNICEF to the destitute
children  of  Africa, to the street children of Istanbul and Athens, and to
organizations supporting ecological activities.

In  addition,  it  was  announced  by  the  Holy  Synod that the Ecumenical
Patriarch  would receive the title of Honorary Doctor of the School for the
Protection  of  Cultural Treasures of the University of Ravenna in Italy in
June.

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