2022 -- S 2019

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ECUMENICAL

PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW OF CONSTANTINOPLE

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Gallo, Euer, Kallman, Algiere, de la Cruz, F
Lombardi, Quezada, DiMario, and Picard

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2022

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Bartholomew of Constantinople, the 270th and current Archbishop of

Constantinople, and the Ecumenical Patriarch since November 2, 1991, was born Dimitrios

Archontonis on February 29, 1940, on the Island of Imbros, which was later renamed Gokceada

by Turkey; and

     WHEREAS, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended elementary school on his home

Island of Imbros and then attended secondary school at the renowned Zographeion Lyceum in

Constantinople (Istanbul). Shortly thereafter, he studied theology at the Patriarchal Theological

School of Halki, graduating in 1961 with highest honors. Upon graduation he was immediately

ordained a deacon and given the name Bartholomew; and

     WHEREAS, From 1963 to 1968, Bartholomew pursued graduate studies at the Pontifical

Oriental Institute in Rome, the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Switzerland and the Ludwig

Maximilian University of Munich, Germany. Upon graduating, he returned to Constantinople and

was appointed Assistant Dean of the Sacred Theological School of Halki, and shortly thereafter

was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on October 19, 1969; and

     WHEREAS, In 1972, Bartholomew was chosen to serve as the Director of the Patriarchal

Office of his predecessor patriarch Demetrios. On Christmas of 1973, he was named the

Metropolitan of Philadelphia, was renamed as the Director of the Patriarchal office, and remained

in those positions until he was enthroned as the Metropolitan of Chalcedon in 1990; and

     WHEREAS, On October 22, 1991, in Istanbul, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was

unanimously elected by the Holy Synod, to be the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople,

Ecumenical Patriarch, and the spiritual leader of approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians

across the globe and many millions in the United States. The State of Rhode Island is blessed to

be the home of three Greek Orthodox parishes: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church,

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, and St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure as the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew has

worked tirelessly in support of religious liberty and tolerance throughout the world. He has been

called the “Green Patriarch” in honor and recognition of his efforts to promote ecology and in

support of initiatives to protect the environment, to raise personal responsibility and to promote

environmental ethics, by organizing numerous international ecumenical and interreligious

symposia, all over the globe . Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has always been a firm believer

and a global leader, in interfaith dialogue and thanks to his hard work, Orthodox Christian

relations with the Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and other Christian groups have been

greatly advanced. His unique perspective and experience as a citizen of Turkey has greatly

assisted him in his efforts to promote greater understanding and tolerance between the Muslim

community and the Orthodox Christian community. He strongly engaged by taking significant

initiatives in an international level, on defending and promoting Children's Rights and raised a

strong voice against Modern Slavery; and

     WHEREAS, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s wisdom, patience, and vigorous

support of peaceful resolutions to world conflicts has been widely sought out and appreciated by

world leaders and organizations across the globe. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was invited

to Brussels in 1993 to meet with the President of the Commission of the European Union, and in

1994, he delivered a historical and inspirational talk, as an invited Church leader at the plenary

session of the European Union in Strasbourg. Later that year, he addressed the sixth World

Conference of Religions for Peace in Riva, del Garda, Italy. Ecumenical Patriarch also visited

Jerusalem in 1995, where he met Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, as well as Pope John Paul II

in Rome at the Vatican; and

     WHEREAS, Other distinguished leaders who have consulted with the Ecumenical

Patriarch include then-President of France, Jacques Chirac in Lourdes, the Archbishop of

Canterbury in Great Britain, and the Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after September 11,

2001, the Ecumenical Patriarch co-chaired a major inter-faith meeting with the President of the

European Commission, Roman Prodi, on “The Peace of God in the World”, an event with major

religious leaders from Christianity, Islam and Judaism in attendance; and

     WHEREAS, In his first visit to the United States, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

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received the Congressional Gold Medal, in recognition of “his outstanding and enduring

contributions to religious understanding and peace”. In his most recent twelve-day visit to the

United States, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited New York City on November 2, 2021, presided

over a somber ceremonial door opening at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National

Shrine near the World Trade Center in memory of the tragedy of the terrorist attacks that took

place twenty years earlier on September 11, 2001, and in further memory of the small orthodox

parish church near ground zero that was also destroyed during the terrorist attacks. The

Ecumenical Patriarch also visited the White House and met with President Biden on his recent

trip to the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received numerous awards and honors

throughout his distinguished life of public service including the Human Dignity Award from the

American Jewish Committee, the 2013 Global Thinkers Forum Award for Excellence in Peace

and Collaboration, the Four Freedoms Award in 2012 for the Freedom of Worship, the

aforementioned Congressional Gold Medal, which, along with the Presidential Medal of

Freedom, is one of the two highest civilian awards given by the United States, and the 2002

Sophie Prize for his environmental advocacy. In April of 2008, Ecumenical Patriarch

Bartholomew was included in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the

world; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby congratulates

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the 30th Anniversary of his election as the Ecumenical

Patriarch on October 22, 1991. We thank him for his tireless efforts to promote world peace, to

protect the environment, to support religious tolerance and liberty, and for being the inspirational

leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians. We wish him many more years of good

health, happiness, and success as the Ecumenical Patriarch and in his many noble endeavors; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of

Constantinople.

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