The Orthodox Church

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople is honoured as “first among equals” among the bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Catholics and Orthodox share the apostolic faith, the sacraments and the priesthood.

Bartholomew I

Birth name: Dimitrios Archontonis

Born: February 29, 1940 · Agioi Theodoroi, Imbros
Ordained deacon: 1961
Ordained priest: 1969
Metropolitan of Philadelphia: 1973
Metropolitan of Chalcedon: 1990
Elected Pope: October 22, 1991

Other Orthodox patriarchs

A short list of ancient patriarchates, with their official websites.

Theodoros II · Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa · www.patriarchateofalexandria.com
John X · Patriarch of Antioch and All the East · antiochpatriarchate.org
Theophilos III · Patriarch of Jerusalem · jerusalem-patriarchate.info
Kirill · Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia · www.patriarchia.ru

1965: the excommunications lifted

On 7 December 1965 Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I issued a joint declaration that committed the mutual excommunications of 1054 to oblivion, while recognising that dialogue must continue.

vatican.va: Joint Catholic-Orthodox Declaration, 7 December 1965

Dialogue today

Catholics and Orthodox continue a theological dialogue of truth and charity. On 29 November 2025 Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to the path towards full communion.

vatican.va: Joint Declaration of Leo XIV and Bartholomew I, 29 November 2025

Nicaea, 1700 years (2025)

The First Council of Nicaea (325) gave Christians the Creed they still share. For its 1700th anniversary Pope Leo XIV published In Unitate Fidei and prayed with Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders in İznik (ancient Nicaea) on 28 November 2025.

vatican.va: Ecumenical prayer in İznik, 28 November 2025

Sources

Last verified: 2026-10-23