NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is expected to be received by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, September 15, as part of his official visit to the United States, which will take place from September 15 to 25.
His All-Holiness arrived tonight, Sunday, September 14, at Dulles International Airport, near Washington, DC, where he was welcomed by U.S. Chief of Protocol, Monica Crowley, Deputy Secretary of State, Michael Rigas, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S., Katerina Nassika, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr. Alex Karloutsos.
Given the lateness of the hour, a warm yet informal welcome was held at the hotel. Among those who greeted the Patriarch were His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey; Bishops Athenagoras of Nazianzos (Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod) and Nektarios of Diokleia (Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese); Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including National Commander of the Order, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis and National Vice Commander Hon. Theodore Bozonelis; Andrew Manatos; hotel management; and clergy and faithful from the area, including young adults.
Patriarch Bartholomew will be accompanied throughout his visit by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, Director of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Representation Office in Athens, Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria and the Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, Patriarchal Deacon Barnabas, Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Fr. Evangelos Grigoriadis, Nikolaos Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchate’s Press and Communications Office, Themistoklis Karanikolas and Konstantina Bakali.
This is the ninth visit of His All Holiness to the US. It follows the Templeton Foundation’s announcement awarding His All -Holiness the prestigious Templeton Prize. The formal presentation will take place on September 24 at Lincoln Center in NYC. The honor recognizes his groundbreaking efforts to bridge science and spirituality in the pursuit of environmental stewardship, inspiring diverse faith communities to unite in the protection of Creation.
According to the official program, on September 16, His All-Holiness will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, escorted by General Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command.
Earlier in the day, he will attend a breakfast hosted in His honor by the Turkish Ambassador, Sedat Önal. A luncheon hosted by Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika of Greece to the U.S. will follow the Arlington ceremony and later in the evening, a dinner in His honor will be hosted by Deputy Secretary of State, Michael J. Rigas.
In New York, His All-Holiness will meet with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 18 and deliver an address at the Council on Foreign Relations the following day.
On September 20, an Environmental Tribute honoring His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew—widely known as the “Green Patriarch”—will be held at the Stony Brook University Marine Station on the Southampton Campus. During the event, His All-Holiness will be presented with the University Medal in recognition of his pioneering efforts in environmental stewardship and interfaith dialogue.
Later that day, His All-Holiness will preside over the Synaxis of the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States, held at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church in Southampton. This significant gathering will culminate in a Patriarchal Concelebration with the members of the Holy Synod of America, scheduled for September 21.
While in New York, according to the official program, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will also address the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit. He will also meet with Hierarchs, Priests, Presbyteres, and Monastics at the Archdiocesan Cathedral, and visit the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus.
Following a Doxology service at St. George Tropeoforos Church in Manhattan, His All-Holiness will offer blessings to faithful from Constantinople, as well as his native island of Imvros and Tenedos.
