A resounding message in favor of peace among nations was delivered from the podium of the Greek Parliament by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. His All-Holiness emphasized that peace among peoples is unattainable without peace among religions, delivering his address in the presence of state, political, and ecclesiastical leadership. This marked his first speech to Parliament since 1999, where he stressed his absolute support for sincere peace initiatives.
He simultaneously highlighted his continuous struggle for religious unity and the unifying role of religions, while taking a firm stance against fundamentalism, which he said is incompatible with true faith. “Peace was never a given condition, but a conquest, resulting from inspired initiatives of courage and self-sacrifice,” the Ecumenical Patriarch meaningfully stated.
“We continuously strive for interfaith cooperation and highlighting the peacemaking role of religions. We consider fundamentalism a degradation of religious experience and a phenomenon entirely incompatible with faith. Genuine faith is the strictest judge of religious fanaticism and intolerance,” he emphasized at another point. He also expressed gratitude to Greece for its “unwavering support of the initiatives and actions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” which he said remains the banner of Orthodox faith, ethics, and culture.
According to Patriarch Bartholomew, peace was never a self-evident state but a conquest achieved through inspired initiatives of courage and sacrifice. He also addressed criticism leveled against religions for allegedly fueling fanaticism and violence in God’s name.
His All-Holiness did not fail to thank Greece for its unwavering support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s initiatives and actions, which he noted remains the standard-bearer of Orthodox faith, ethics, and culture.
Historic address by Bartholomew in Parliament: Reception by Nikitas Kaklamanis
It should be noted that Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch to Parliament with the impressive phrase from Saint Augustine: “God provides the wind. But man must raise the sail.”
The visit of the Orthodox Primate took place in an atmosphere of profound institutional and spiritual elevation, in the presence of President of the Republic Konstantinos Tassoulas. The entire state, political, and religious leadership of the country honored His All-Holiness for the double anniversary of his 35 years of Patriarchal tenure and 65 years of priestly ministry. During his address, Nikitas Kaklamanis emphasized: “With the wonderful words of Saint Augustine, I would like to honor the invaluable contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the ends of the world and time.”
The Parliament Speaker continued by comparing the Ecumenical Patriarchate to a “ship that sails through the centuries,” leaving behind a bright trail while charting new luminous destinations. “From the founder of the Church of Constantinople, the first ‘Roman’ Saint, Apostle Andrew, to modern times, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has remained the emblematic center of Orthodoxy, based in the City of Cities,” Kaklamanis characteristically noted, adding that Patriarch Bartholomew, as the 270th Ecumenical leader, through his dignity and tireless work “illuminates both Hellenism worldwide and universal civilization.”
Concluding his speech, the Parliament Speaker underlined the institutional significance of the Phanar as guarantor of Orthodox unity, noting: “We owe honor and gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarchate because we owe our existence, cohesion, and continuity to it. Its mission is the guarantee for our history, present, and future.”
In a moment of high symbolism, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament awarded Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament.
The packed plenary hall was attended by members of the Cabinet, leaders of parliamentary parties, former President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, former prime ministers, former Parliament Speakers, MPs, representatives of the Archbishop of Athens, leaders of other denominations and religions, ambassadors, the Deputy Minister and Consul General of Constantinople Konstantinos Koutras, Parliament Secretary General Vassilios Bagiokos, Special Thematic Secretary of Parliament Eleftheria Papageorgiou, President of the Executive Committee & Secretary General of the Parliament Foundation Evanthis Hatzivassileiou, Parliament’s Diplomatic Advisor Ambassador Konstantinos Oikonomidis, and President of Parliament’s Scientific Council Kostas Mavrias.
