Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has arrived in London for a week long visit to the United Kingdom that will include a private meeting with King Charles III, a visit to Oxford and a pilgrimage to the Patriarchal Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at London Heathrow Airport on Monday evening, September 14, where he was welcomed by Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain. Greek Ambassador to the UK Ioannis Tsaousis was also present.
A key moment of the visit will be a private meeting between Patriarch Bartholomew and King Charles III at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
On Tuesday, September 15, the Ecumenical Patriarch will preside from the throne during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, in Bayswater, London.
The service will be held to mark the name day of Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain.
Patriarch Bartholomew will also receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Chichester and is scheduled to deliver an address at the University of Oxford during his UK visit.
On Sunday, September 20, he will travel to the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, where he will preside from the throne during the Divine Liturgy.
The Ecumenical Patriarch is accompanied by Metropolitan Dimitrios, Elder of the Princes’ Islands; Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria; Metropolitan Ioakeim of Lambis, Syvritos and Sfakia; Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office; and Deacon Evlogios Tsatsas, Codicographer of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
The Patriarchal delegation also includes Nikolaos Georgios Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchal Press and Communications Office, and Panagiotis Grafiadellis, a staff member of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
During Patriarch Bartholomew’s absence from Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel, Elder of Chalcedon, has been appointed as his representative.
Metropolitan Emmanuel, together with Grand Archdeacon Alexandros, saw the Ecumenical Patriarch off at the airport in Constantinople before his departure for the United Kingdom.
