Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew is on an official visit to London. On Monday evening, he celebrated a mass at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Sophia on the occasion of the celebration of Three Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom are the traditional patron saints of education in the Orthodox world). After the mass, he addressed the congregation, urging parents to educate their children, for this is the greatest treasure they can offer them. Bartholomew also runs comes up against, and voiced his hope that Turkey’s EU orientation may help solve these problems. Members of the Greek community in London, delegates from Greece and Cyprus’ embassies, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and representatives of other religious groups, former King Constantine of Greece and members of his family attended the mass at the St Sophia Cathedral.

Bartholomew visited London upon Archbishop of Canterbury’s invitation, so that the two spiritual leaders present Tuesday the results the dialogue between the two Churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Anglican, has yielded so far. They will then declare the continuation of the dialogue. Later on, they will co-celebrate a mass at the Westminster Abbey.