As Orthodox Christians, we use the Greek word kairos to describe a critical moment in time, often a specific historical period with lasting repercussions and eternal significance. For humankind and the planet as a whole, now is our kairos: the decisive time in our relationship with all of God’s creation, when we must respond in an opportune manner to protect life on earth from the worst consequences of human recklessness. May God grant us the wisdom to act promptly."

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Welcome to the Greening the Parish Resource Page!

This webpage is inspired by the monumental work of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, affectionately known as the Green Patriarch, and provides resource material for fulfilling our vocation as stewards of creation and working towards greening our parishes.

The resource page offers a historical record of the ecological initiatives and activities of His All-Holiness, featuring Encyclicals for September 1st as the Day of Prayer for and Protection of the Natural Environment, and highlighting the Patriarch’s work in global environmental advocacy and action.

The Greening the Parish webinar series explores different practical perspectives to understand and implement the theology of creation care at home as well as in your local community. The Orthodox Creation Care Toolkit features practical methods and manuals for starting immediately and proceeding effectively with this important work on the parish level. Finally, this section draws attention to diverse resources to supplement the functional tools with opportunities to learn more about environmental practices within the Orthodox Christian tradition and the context of other traditions.

We sincerely hope that this page will assist you in your efforts to green your parish and adopt a life of environmental stewardship.

The Green Patriarch The Green Patriarch

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The Ecumenical Patriarch has persistently proclaimed the primacy of spiritual values in determining environmental ethics and action. To this end, he has spoken in global organizations and addressed religious assemblies, while encouraging Orthodox Christians throughout the world to care for God’s creation.

In 2008, the Ecumenical Patriarch was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World for “defining environmentalism as a spiritual responsibility.”

Learn more about the work of His All-Holiness »