By Antonis

Copyright thenationalherald

With His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his Apostolic visit to the United States September 14-25 on the occasion of his receiving the Templeton Prize, add the following books to your reading list to learn more about the “first among equals.”

The spiritual leader for the world’s over 200 million Orthodox Christians, he is dedicated to advancing reconciliation among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities, and is an active proponent of environmental causes.

‘Bartholomew: Apostle and Visionary’ by John Chryssavgis was published in 2016 and includes a Foreword by Pope Francis and reflections by a diverse group of people you might not expect in a book about the Patriarch Bartholomew.

As noted in the book’s description: “Surrounded on all sides by Islam, the beloved Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew continues to impact the world for Christ from his seat in Constantinople, a city central to Christian history.”

The book also includes many historic photographs of Patriarch Bartholomew highlighting what an extraordinary journey he had had so far from his youth on the island of Imvros to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

As the book description continues: “In one of the most remarkable tenures of the patriarchate it has been more than 25 years since Bartholomew first accepted this ministerial position, which is considered ‘first among equals’ of all Orthodox leaders around the world. He is viewed by many to be a strong, humble leader who is well-loved across a wide variety of political and religious boundaries.”

Author John Chryssavgis was given unfettered access to church files, Bartholomew’s personal notes, and the patriarch himself, to write the story of a man “who has longed to serve God, the Church, and the world his entire life.”

“Through personal and institutional challenges, Bartholomew continues to strive toward unity within the Orthodox community and build bridges to others. It is a task that can be as daunting as it is important. This book removes the veil that some may have placed upon this joyful man of God who is anything but mysterious, as evidenced by the heartfelt contributions to the book from world dignitaries, influencers, and religious leaders Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Rowan Williams, Rabbi David Rosen, George Stephanopoulos, Jane Goodall, Joe Biden, Jr., and Al Gore, Jr.”

The book’s description urges the reader to: “Discover for yourself the man who embodies the meaning of the word ecumenical— while not altering one thing in what he believes— and experience his passion for God, the Church, and the world.”

‘Encountering the Mystery: Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today’ by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and John Chryssavgis (editor) was first published in 2008 and is now available in paperback. “As Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew is the symbol of unity for the self-governing national and ethnic Orthodox Christian churches throughout the world,” the book’s description noted. “He is well known for his commitment to protecting the environment, and for opening communications with other Christians as well as with Muslims and other religious groups. His efforts for raising environmental awareness globally have earned him the title ‘Green Patriarch.’”

“Written with personal warmth and great erudition, ‘Encountering the Mystery’ illuminates the rich culture and soul of Orthodox Christianity,” the description continued. “Bartholomew traces the roots of Orthodox Christianity to its founding two thousand years ago, explores its spirituality and doctrine, and explains its liturgy and art. More especially, in a unique and unprecedented way, he relates Orthodox Christianity to contemporary issues, such as freedom and human rights, social justice and globalization, as well as nationalism and war.”

‘On Earth as in Heaven: Ecological Vision and Initiatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’, part of the Orthodox Christianity and Contemporary Thought series, was first published in 2011, features selected writings showcasing His All-Holiness’ statements on environmental degradation and climate change. It contains numerous speeches and interviews in various circumstances, including ecological symposia, academic seminars, and regional and international events, over the first 20 years of his ministry.

The books mentioned above are available online.