His All-Holiness the Patriarch: “Your presence at the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a blessing and a sign of hope founded not only on human effort, but on the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
His All-Holiness the Patriarch: “The bonds between the Coptic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in particular are ancient and sacred ties, rooted in the witness of the first Christians, nourished by reverence for the patristic heritage, sanctified by the blood of the martyrs, and enlivened by a shared liturgical and ascetic rhythm.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II: “Your invitation to us is not merely an invitation, but a message signed with love, extending a long history of deeply rooted relations between our two Churches, between the See of Saint Mark the Apostle and the See of Saint Andrew the Apostle.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II: “Let us pray together, serve together, and bear witness together before a world that expects from us something deeper than words.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited this evening His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, at Saint George Church in the Phanar, the Patriarchal headquarters in Istanbul.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros and the accompanying delegation were welcomed by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. An official prayer service was held at the beginning of the meeting, during which the “Polychronion” (“Many Years”) was chanted in honor of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Successor of Saint Mark the Apostle. This is a traditional liturgical prayer in the Greek Orthodox Church offered in honor of Church primates.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros concluded the prayer with these words:
“O Lord our God, we thank You for gathering us in this blessed meeting. Grant us the grace and joy of Your glorious Resurrection. Let the light of Your Resurrection shine upon us. Bless this gathering, bless every word and every good intention. Bless our beloved brother, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, and preserve him in peace, health, and strength in his ministry. Remember Your Church everywhere and strengthen her in faith and peace. For You alone are worthy of glory, honor, and worship, now and forever. Amen. And make us worthy to pray thankfully: Our Father who art in heaven…”
Afterward, His Holiness Pope Tawadros, the delegation, and those welcoming them proceeded to the residence of Patriarch Bartholomew I, who warmly received Pope Tawadros.
The official meeting then began in the presence of members of the Synodal Committee for Dialogue with Christians and Religions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, together with the papal delegation.
In his address, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew warmly welcomed His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the delegation, describing the Pope’s presence at the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a blessing and a sign of hope grounded in the grace of the Holy Spirit, who gathers all in the love of Christ toward unity.
He noted that the visit to Constantinople goes far beyond the bounds of an official occasion, carrying profound historical significance as the first such visit, and as a direct fruit of the fraternal meeting hosted by Pope Tawadros in September 2024 at Saint Bishoy Monastery in Egypt.
Referring to that 2024 meeting in Egypt, His All-Holiness said it was an opportunity to deepen understanding, strengthen bonds of love, seek restoration of communion, and offer a credible common witness in the contemporary world.
He continued:
“For many centuries, our two Churches walked on parallel paths, at times separated by the weight of historical circumstances and doctrinal misunderstandings. Yet through sincere and patient dialogue, we have rediscovered that what unites us immeasurably surpasses what once divided us. The Christological agreements reached in recent decades have revealed our common faith in the mystery of the Incarnate Word, expressed in distinct theological formulations, yet firmly rooted in the apostolic tradition of the undivided Church.”
He added:
“The time has therefore come to move from agreement to encounter, from theological rapprochement to spiritual harmony. This is our shared responsibility. We are called to transform the fruits of dialogue into tangible pastoral reality by fostering mutual acquaintance among our faithful, encouraging cooperation in proclaiming the faith—especially in regions where Christians suffer persecution and marginalization—and raising one voice in defense of human dignity, the sanctity of creation, the centrality of the family, and the pursuit of peace.”
He further stated:
“The ties between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches in general, and between the Coptic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in particular, are ancient and sacred. Their roots are planted in the witness of the first Christians, nourished by the Fathers, sanctified by the blood of the martyrs, and animated by a shared liturgical and ascetic rhythm. Today these sacred bonds are renewed and healed—not by erasing history, but by overcoming our disputes and rising above past divisions in the radiant light and perfect love of Christ.”
He concluded:
“As we welcome Your Holiness and your esteemed delegation to this historic See of Constantinople, we offer fervent prayers that this meeting may contribute to the growth of brotherly relations between our Churches and inspire renewed steps toward the full manifestation of our unity.”
In his address, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II expressed his joy at meeting His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, the venerable metropolitans, bishops, and all those present. He thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for the invitation, describing it as “a message signed with love.”
His Holiness noted that this was the first time he had visited the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey, and described the visit as a continuation of the long history of love between the two Churches, between the See of Saint Mark the Apostle and the See of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
He said:
“I come to you from Egypt and from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, from the land blessed by the visit of the Holy Family in the first century, from the land of Saint Mark the Apostle who was martyred in Alexandria. Through the ages, the Coptic Church carried the torch of faith and raised champions of faith such as Saint Athanasius the Apostolic and Saint Cyril Pillar of Faith. It became known as the Church of the Martyrs. On its soil arose Saint Anthony the Great, father of all monks, and from it monasticism and monasteries spread to the whole world.”
He added:
“I cannot stand in this place without expressing my appreciation for all that the Ecumenical Orthodox Church does here, and for the efforts Your All-Holiness exerts for Orthodox unity. You carry this witness with rare faithfulness and spiritual joy that inspires us all. I deeply value all that you do in the service of unity and peace, especially your profound call: ‘The Church is called to be a sign of unity, a witness to love, and a servant of peace.’ I pray that Christ preserve you in full health and strengthen you in this sacred mission. I also appreciate the historic ties between our two countries and peoples, united by a long history of friendship.”
His Holiness Pope Tawadros also invited Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Egypt and the Coptic Church.
He concluded:
“Let us pray together, serve together, and bear witness together before a world that expects from us something deeper than words.”
A dinner banquet was then held in honor of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.
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