PHOTO: Outside the Turkish Embassy in DC…

ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ

Patriarch’s reckless decisions on Ukraine, continued condemnation of Russia, absence of repentance, and diplomatic subservience to Turkey deepen divisions within the Orthodox Church and undermine the power of the Hellenic Diaspora.

By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s unusually long and self-justifying statement to the press after his meeting with President Trump (you can watch it at the bottom of this post) is not just a response to the minimal coverage of his trip in the Greek-American community – it’s a testament to his unrepentant refusal to take responsibility for the violent consequences of his actions. By continuing to condemn Russia while ignoring the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Bartholomew reveals his inability to reflect on the damage he has caused. His stance is not just politically motivated; it’s a willful denial of the devastating reality his decisions have inflicted on the Orthodox Church.

Bartholomew’s decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was a blunder of monumental proportions. He has blood on his hands—literally and figuratively. By recognizing Ukraine’s independence in the Church, he ignited a chain of violence that continues to wreak havoc. The Ukrainian authorities have resorted to brutal tactics, forcefully seizing churches and persecuting the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which remains loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate. More than 70% of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians follow the UOC, yet Bartholomew, in his reckless pursuit of political favor, disregarded this reality. His actions have led to bloodshed, loss, and deepened division within the Church. He granted autocephaly to Ukraine despite his own letter in 1992 to the Moscow Patriarch in which he recognized Russian  jurisdiction over Ukraine (link here). In the process, Helleniscope has revealed that Bartholomew ignored the advice of at least one Greek top diplomat warning him in writing against the Ukrainian autocephaly… 

As the war in Ukraine continues, Bartholomew’s insistence on painting Russia as the sole villain only compounds the damage. His statements, devoid of nuance, ignore the fact that both sides in a war suffer atrocities, but his one-sided narrative ignores the real-world consequences for millions of Orthodox Christians caught in the crossfire. In the meantime, UOC Churches are under attack and the Russian language is not allowed to be spoken in the “democracy” of Ukraine!!

At the end of his statement, Bartholomew dared to speak of “mistakes.” But where was the call for repentance? Where was the recognition of the pain and suffering he had caused? No, Bartholomew did not ask for forgiveness. He did not acknowledge the blood on his hands. Instead, he continued to deflect, making it clear that he is unwilling to face the gravity of his decisions.

Bartholomew’s actions have caused a schism in Orthodoxy, and his political maneuvering has put the future of the Church at risk. There are countless photos of former CIA head and State Dept. head, Mike Pompeo, visiting with him to dicuss the American “Deep State’s”  sinister plans on Ukraine. His unwillingness to take responsibility and his refusal to seek forgiveness for the violence he has helped create make him a leader who, instead of healing the divisions within the Church, has exacerbated them. He has chosen the path of power and division over unity and reconciliation, and in doing so, he has left a stain on his legacy that may never be washed away.

Further complicating Bartholomew’s diplomatic entanglements, his visit to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., adds another layer to his increasingly questionable political alliances. Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros were hosted at a breakfast by Turkish Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan, where Bartholomew lauded Turkey’s role in fostering interfaith dialogue. This public display of camaraderie with the Turkish government raises questions about his priorities, especially given the growing political influence of Turkey on the Patriarchate.

Meanwhile, Karloutsos was notably absent from the embassy breakfast. Since the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, Karloutsos has been banned from entering Turkish soil and is considered a “person of interest” by the Turkish government. The Turkish Embassy is considered “Turkish soil” and his arrest there is feasible. This visit to the embassy further emphasizes the Patriarch’s increasing focus on political diplomacy, seemingly at the cost of the Orthodox community’s spiritual unity. Bartholomew’s unwavering alliances with Turkey and his refusal to address the ramifications of his past decisions only deepen the divisions he has caused within the Church.

In essence, since his rise to the Throne in 1991, Bartholomew and his underlings (Archbishops and Metropolitans all over the Globe) have turned into servants of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.  In turn, the Turks are using them to reduce or eliminate the biggest weapon of Hellensism, its Ecumenical Diaspora. They are closing Greek Language schools, they are sowing division in Hellenic organizations, they undermine any political actions against the main enemy of Hellenism, Turkey…

September 16, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.

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BELOW YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF BARTHOLOMEW’S STATEMENT AND A REPORT FROM HIS VISIT TO THE TURKISH EMBASSY

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source – orthodoxtimes.com

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Elpidophoros and members of the Official Delegation were hosted at a breakfast at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC by His Excellency Hasan Murat Mercan, Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S.

Ecumenical Patriarch in his remarks during the event, said that “As ever, the mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is purely spiritual, and demonstrates how Turkey can be – not only an inclusive society, but a bridge-builder between East and West, a much needed role in the world today.”

Read the remarks of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the breakfast

Your Excellency Ambassador Mercan,
Your Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros,
Your Eminences, Excellencies,
Honored Guests,

We are glad to have this opportunity today to enjoy the hospitality of Your Excellency, and we thank you for honoring us and our company with this welcome meal.

This is our Third Official Visit to the United States, and every time we have had this joyful experience, a visit to this Embassy has been an integral part of our itinerary.

As I noted on my last time here, “the enduring presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate within the Republic of Turkey comprises a history of great complexity and depth, and it constantly presents new opportunities and challenges.”

The sensitivity and skill of diplomacy are needed now more than ever, in a world that is often heated by rhetoric and ideologies that lead to extremes.

Your Excellency is a prime example of the kind of leadership and counsel that engages true diplomacy, which is seeing the same conditions in the world through the eyes of another. We appreciate your sensitivity and skill in this regard very much.

As ever, the mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is purely spiritual, and demonstrates how Turkey can be – not only an inclusive society, but a bridge-builder between East and West, a much needed role in the world today.

In the realm of interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue, it is the the Ecumenical Patriarchate that is at the forefront of building bridges of understanding and mutual respect.

Our position in our own City, where Europe and Asia meet, gives us a unique perspective and opportunity for doing such significant peacemaking work.

The welcome of Your Excellency to us and our company is a reminder that it will always be dialogue and respect that are the foundation of all true diplomatic labors.

We thank you once again and lift our glass in your honor, invoking the blessing of the One True God upon you and the people of the Republic of Turkey, whom you so ably represent in this capital of the United States. 

 

Tags: ecumenical patriarchate