Source: The National Herald
PRINCETON, NJ – In honor of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the United States commencing September 14, the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens has released its latest short film featuring a personal reflection by His All-Holiness. In this extraordinary piece, the Ecumenical Patriarch contemplates the enduring richness and resilience of Greek language, culture, and thought, and their continuing relevance in today’s world.
Selections from this interview were featured in the short film, ‘Guardians of Hellenism: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople’ which premiered at the American School’s Gala this past May and has since earned international recognition at cultural heritage film festivals. The short film is available online: https://bit.ly/3KiT7JQ.
The Ecumenical Patriarch’s personal reflection illuminates this profoundly important institution, which continues to serve as a beacon of cultural identity and diplomacy. Watch the complete conversation and hear His All-Holiness’ inspiring words in full online: https://bit.ly/4nqts07.
The interview with His All-Holiness was filmed at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople and offers a moving portrait of the Patriarchate’s global influence and its vital role in preserving and promoting Greek heritage and culture. It stands as a testament to the resilience of Hellenism and the leadership of the Patriarchate in a rapidly changing world.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has existed continuously since the 4th century CE and is recognized as the spiritual and administrative center of the Eastern Orthodox world. It has contributed to the preservation of Greek (the language of the Gospels and the early Fathers of the Church) as a primary medium of expression, as intellectuals adopted the aesthetic values of earlier pagan literary culture and employed concepts of Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy to articulate Christian doctrine. The Patriarchate has championed and preserved ancient, medieval, and modern Greek literary culture for more than a millennium.