The Ecological Efforts of the ,Green Patriarch‘

Abstract

: The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, started very early to deal with the issues of ecology and he also engaged in many different activities entwined with ecology and environment protection. In this area of public activity, one can clearly observe the continuity of endeavours of the patriarch Bartholomew, who has shown interest in the field of environmental preservation when he was an associate of the patriarch Demetrius. This interest in ecology became even more evident when he continued to work in this area after being elected as patriarch. Bartholomew recognised the ecological necessities, and he uses different ways to invite and encourage the others to develop acumen and sensitivity toward the care for the environment where we live, always accentuating that this is a call to which we all are invited to re-spond, that the emergence of the ecological crisis is a responsibility of everyone. Due to his many efforts in the area of ecology, Bartholomew was given the title of the ,green patriarch‘.