The Ecumenical Patriarch Poster Contest has received the endorsement of the highest possible authority: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew himself.
During an audience with this year’s Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) pilgrims at the Phanar in Constantinople on Friday, August 7, 2026, His All-Holiness held up the banner announcing the Ecumenical Patriarch Poster Contest, giving his endorsement to this program that is designed to educate Orthodox youth about his global spiritual ministry.
The 4th Annual Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) began on August 2, when eighteen Orthodox Christian young adults from across the United States arrived in Constantinople to participate in this unique program that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate founded. With ongoing funding from the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as from charitable contributions from generous donors across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the POD is a religious and educational journey through Constantinople awarded to Orthodox Christian young adults across America.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Poster Contest invites Orthodox students ages 5–18 to create original artwork celebrating His All‑Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s 35 years of spiritual leadership and his unwavering commitment to protecting God’s creation as the Green Patriarch. The Contest is being organized by Sprouts Educators Helen Nixon, Ed.D. and Katina Limberakis Tsatalis, M.Ed.
The POD pilgrims and program organizers offered heartfelt thanks to Archon Perry Siatis, Archon Prof. John Fotopoulos, Archon Nick Tranto, Archon Nick Terezis, Archon Ted Argeroplos, Prof. Elizabeth Prodromou, Archon Jeff Chrones, his beloved wife Hellena, and their great POD team, for all their efforts to make the Pilgrimage of Discovery successful.
