Visit of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew  
    His All Holiness BARTHOLOMEW I, Archbishop Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch is the 270th successor to the Apostle Andrew and spiritual leader of 300 millions Orthodox Christians worldwide. Since asceding the Ecumenical Throne on November 2nd, 1991.
    His All Holiness Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW was born 29.02.1940 in the village of Aghioi Theodoroi on the Aegean island of Imvros (Aegean Sea,Turkey), to Archontonis family (christened Demetrios). He enrolled at the renowned Theological School of Halki, graduating with high honors in 1961. He was immediately ordained to the Holy Diaconate on August, 1961, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Imvros by his Elder, the then Metropolitan of Imvros and Tenedos and later Metropolitan of Eliopolis and Chalcedon, Meliton. He was given the name Bartholomew. From 1961 through 1963 he fulfilled his military obligation as an officer in the Turkish army reserve. From 1963-68, he pursued postgraduate studies, on scholarship from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of the Gregorian University in Rome. He received doctorate in Canon Law. He pursued further studies at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland and the University of Munich, specializing in ecclesiastical law. He is fluent in seven languages - Greek, English, Turkish, Italian, Latin, French and German. When he returned to Constantinople in 1968, he was appointed assistant dean of the Sacred Theological School of Halki and, on October, 1969, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by his spiritual father. Six months later, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras elevated Father Bartolomew to the office of Archimandrite in the Patriarchal Chapel of St. Andrew. When Dimitrios was elected Ecumenical Patriarch in 1972, he established his Patriarchal Office and named the young Archimandrite Bartholomew as its director. On Christmas Day, 1973, Father Bartholomew was consecrated a bishop and named Metropolitan of Philadelphia (of Asia Minor). He remained as head of the Personal Patriarchal Office until his enthronement as the Metropolitan of Chalcedon on January, 1990. On 1974 he was enter in Saint Synod of Church of Constantinople. Since 1975 he was taking part in works of World Church Council. He was accompany in all foreign voyage of the Patriarch Dimitrios, also this to Poland on November 1987.
    On October 22, 1991, His All Holiness was unanimously elected by the grace of God, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, following the death of Patriarch Dimitrios on October 2nd, 1991. Intronization was make 2 November, on this year. New Patriarch was invite on 1992 to Fanar of all heads of local orthodox church, so that local church was enter nearer relations. From 1992-95, His All Holiness BARTHOLOMEW is began official visits to Mt. Athos, Crete, Egipt (visity the Patriarchate of Alexandria and Sinai), Syrian (Patriarchates of Antioch), Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden, Germany, Belgian (meeteng with Jacques Delors President of the Commission of the European Union, and the speaking at the session of the European Parlament), Ethiopia, Israel and Jerusalem, Finland, Norway, Korea, France, England, Switzerland, Australia and New Zeland. In June 1995, he visited His Holiness Pope John Paul II in Rome.
    In October 1998, His All Holiness Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW visited Poland (on day 10-16.10.1998). This visit was make to invitation St. Council of Bishops of Polish Autocephalous Church. His Eminence Metropolitan SAWA, new Elder Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, was order invitation to His Holiness BARTHOLOMEW, during visit in Constantinople in July 1998. During visit in Poland, Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW was meet with President Aleksander Kwasniewski and prime minister Jerzy Buzek. Patriarch was get doctor honoris causa title of Chritian Teology Academy in Warsaw. Other Warsaw, His Holiness was visit Czestochowa, Krakow, Oswiecim, Siemiatycze, Hajnowka, Bielsk Podlaski, Suprasl and Bialystok. During visit, Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW presided of the consecrating Hagia Sophia Church in Bialystok (he is miniature of famous church in Constantinople). He was take part in puting the corner stone in new churchs in Bialystok (under the invocation of St. George), Siemiatycze and Czestochowa. During meeting with the faihfules, His Holiness was speak: "We arrived, so that at our eyes see actions of a faith after difficult period przesladowan", during other meeting He was speak: "I was more listen about devouting orthodox Poles, but this was I see and this was I perceive, and this from I was contact - more than my expectation".
    His All Holiness Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW in connection with jubilee 2000, again visit Poland on days 23-25.01.2000, to invitation of the Polish Parlament.       More information about activity His Holiness Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW you are find at the official page of the Ecumenical Patriarchate:  www.patriarchate.org