Bishop Athenagoras Becomes Founder of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation
His Grace Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos, Bishop of Nazianzos and Auxiliary Bishop to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, has become a FOUNDER of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation
FOUNDERS of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation have committed to ensuring the financial foundation of the Holy Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, by giving $100,000 over ten years. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, a watershed initiative of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is dedicated to achieving economic independence for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, so that it may fulfill its apostolic mission in perpetuity.
In explaining the considerations that led him to become a FOUNDER of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, His Grace stated: “This summer when I was elected Bishop, I bowed before His All-Holiness and I humbly requested his blessing so I can go and give everything I have for the Church. It was at that moment I knew in my heart what my first act of loving service to the Church would be on the day of my ordination. I gave all my beloved guests bombonieres (favors) with a card that explained that, in lieu of gifts, and in the spirit of stewardship, a donation would be made on their behalf to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation to support the Mother Church. I later shared with His All-Holiness, that as a result of the unexpected overwhelming support I received when I became his Auxiliary Bishop, particularly from Canada, Germany, Greece and America, I would now be able to go one step further; rather than a one-time donation, I could instead become a FOUNDER of his Foundation in honor of my ordination guests, both in person and virtually, who showed me Christlike love. With the help of God, this commitment is a small contribution of my indescribable gratitude and profound love for this divine gift of the sacrament of ordination.”
