Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
| Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
Symbol of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, as found atop the front entrance of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George | |
| Abbreviation | EP |
| Classification | Christianity |
| Orientation | Eastern Orthodox Christianity |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology | Eastern Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Bartholomew I of Constantinople |
| Bishops | 125 (73 acting, 52 titular) |
| Parishes | 525 (in the United States) |
| Monastics | ~1,800 (Mt. Athos) |
| Monasteries | 20 (U.S), 20 (Mt. Athos), 8 (Australia), 6 (Meteora), 2 (Korea) |
| Language | English, Greek (Liturgical), Korean, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Other vernacular languages |
| Headquarters | Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (537–1453) Church of the Holy Apostles (1453–1456) Pammakaristos Church (1456–1588) Church of the Panagia Paramythia (1589–1597) Church of St. Demetrius Xyloportas (1598–1600) St. George's Cathedral, Istanbul (1601–present) 41°01′45″N 28°57′06″E / 41.02917°N 28.95167°E |
| Territory | Anatolia, the Caucasus, Crete, Cyprus, the Dodecanese, Greek mainland and the Aegean Islands, Middle East, Mount Athos, Southern Crimea, Thrace, and Greek Orthodox churches in the Diaspora |
| Independence | 330 AD from the Metropolis of Heraclea |
| Separations | several, see list below |
| Members | ~5,250,000 (in Diaspora) ~203,500–370,000+ (in Turkey) =approximately 5,500,000 (total) |
| Official website | ec-patr.org |
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| Overview |
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Greek: Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, romanized: Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, IPA: [ikumeniˈkon patriarˈçion konstandinuˈpoleos]; Latin: Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constantinopolitanus; Turkish: Rum Ortodoks Patrikhanesi, İstanbul Ekümenik Patrikhanesi, "Roman Orthodox Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul") is one of the fifteen to seventeen autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Because of its historical location as the capital of the former Eastern Roman Empire and its role as the mother church of most modern Eastern Orthodox churches, Constantinople holds a special place of honor within Eastern Orthodox Christianity and serves as the seat for the Ecumenical Patriarch, who enjoys the status of primus inter pares (first among equals) among the world's Eastern Orthodox prelates and is regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians. Phanar (Turkish: Fener), the name of the neighbourhood where ecumenical patriarch resides, is often used as a metaphor or shorthand for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople promotes the expansion of the Christian faith and Eastern Orthodox doctrine, and the Ecumenical Patriarchs are involved in ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, charitable work, and the defense of Orthodox Christian traditions. Prominent issues for the Ecumenical Patriarchate's policy in the 21st century include the safety of the believers in the Middle East, reconciliation of the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches, and the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, which was closed down by the Turkish authorities in 1971.