ecumenical patriarch

American  

noun

1. the patriarch of Constantinople, regarded as the highest dignitary of the Greek Orthodox Church.

---

Other Word Forms

• ecumenical patriarchate noun

Etymology

Origin of ecumenical patriarch

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

The main spiritual guide for Eastern Orthodoxy, the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople — Patriarch Bartholomew — holds much less authority than the pope, for example.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2022

The ecumenical patriarch, based in Turkey, is considered “first among equals” among Orthodox patriarchs but, unlike a pope, doesn’t have authority beyond his own territory.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2022

It brings together Christian leaders, including the pope, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Orthodox ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew, as well as representatives of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism and Jainism.

From Reuters • Oct. 3, 2021

Fellow church leaders, such as the Orthodox leader, ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew, and the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, politicians and other public figures flock to meet him.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2018

Justinian II., the poor phantom Philippicus Bardanes, and lastly Leo III., were only completing and crowning Justinian's double work, of making an ecumenical patriarch, and an emperor behind him, the ultimate judge of doctrine.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.