The following article was written by Archon Harry Dimopoulos, Archon Hartophylax, addressing his parish community of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida.
Dear St. Katherine Parishioners,
As many of you know I was born and raised in Istanbul. I have been living in the US for many decades. I often hear Greek American Orthodox folks questioning why the Patriarchate remains in the City and not move to a friendlier environment.
It was back in 2009 when correspondent Bob Simon in a CBS 60-Minutes program, interviewed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians (the 2nd largest Christian community in the world after the Catholics) told Mr. Simon that he – HAH – feels “crucified” to live in Turkey. It was a stunning revelation. Ever since, and perhaps even much earlier than that, many Greek American Orthodox are wondering why is he putting up with that? This issue recently surfaced in our parish as well.
The question of whether the Ecumenical Patriarchate should remain in Istanbul or relocate to a less controversial environment—Athens, Geneva, New York, or elsewhere—touches the very heart of Orthodox identity. While relocation to some might appear to offer advantages, I believe the long‑term interests of the Church, the unity of global Orthodoxy, and the integrity of the Patriarchate’s mission are best served by remaining in Constantinople. The reasons are theological, historical, geopolitical, and pastoral, and together they form an overwhelming case for staying rooted where the Church has stood for seventeen centuries.
My goal is to convince you that indeed this is the right long-term choice. There are 6 arguments I will offer.
1. The Patriarchate’s Identity Is Bound to Its City
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is not an administrative office that can be moved like a headquarters. It is the *See of Constantinople*, and its primacy is grounded in the decisions of the Second (Constantinople 381AD) and Fourth (Chalcedon 451AD) Ecumenical Councils, which elevated the Bishop of Constantinople because the city was “New Rome”, and the capital of the Roman Empire. The title “Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch” is a canonical and theological definition, not a symbolic flourish.
Relocation would raise profound questions:
On what basis would the Patriarch retain the prerogatives granted specifically to the Bishop of Constantinople?
Would a Patriarchate headquartered in Athens or New York still be the “Mother Church” of many Orthodox communities worldwide?
Would other Churches challenge or reject its primacy?
Even the United Nations recognizes this rooted identity. During his most recent visit to America in 2025, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew was urged by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to “never leave Constantinople.” This counsel reflects a global understanding that the Patriarchate’s legitimacy is inseparable from its historic home.
2. Historical Continuity and the Witness of Martyrdom
For more than 1,700 years, the Church of Constantinople has remained in the same city—through imperial glory, Ottoman conquest, political upheaval, and modern pressures. This uninterrupted presence is itself a testimony of faithfulness and sacrifice.
The grounds around Constantinople and throughout Eastern Turkey are hallowed grounds. They hold the memories of apostles, martyrs, confessors, and saints whose lives shaped the Orthodox faith. All seven of the original Ecumenical Councils took place in or near Constantinople—including Nicaea, Chalcedon, and Ephesus—making this region the cradle of Orthodox conciliar tradition.
Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory captured this sacred continuity when he said that the “living martyrs and saints” of the See of Constantinople are found in its cemeteries, and that their intercessions are joined with the prayers of the present-day martyrs and saints who still reside in Istanbul. To remain in Constantinople is to remain in communion with this unbroken line of witness.
3. A Unique Bridge Between Civilizations
Istanbul is a hinge between East and West, Europe and Asia, Christianity and Islam. The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s presence there gives it a unique diplomatic and spiritual role that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
It stands at the crossroads of civilizations, embodying Orthodoxy’s vocation to be a bridge rather than a partisan, ethnocentric institution.
It engages in Christian–Muslim dialogue from within a Muslim-majority society, giving it credibility no Western relocation could match.
It maintains a position of neutrality between geopolitical blocs, avoiding identification with any single nation or cultural sphere.
A move to Athens would risk narrowing the Patriarchate’s universal mission. A move to Geneva or New York would risk Westernizing its image and diminishing its ability to speak credibly to the East. Remaining in Istanbul preserves its global, ecumenical character.
4. Safeguarding Pan‑Orthodox Unity
The Orthodox world is already strained by competing claims of authority. A relocation would destabilize the delicate balance of global Orthodoxy.
Some Churches would argue that by leaving its canonical city, Constantinople forfeits the basis of its primacy.
Others would interpret the move as political capitulation or alignment with Western powers.
Rival claims to leadership could intensify deepening existing fractures.
Staying in Istanbul preserves continuity and stability. It avoids reopening every contested question of primacy, jurisdiction, and diaspora governance. In a time of global tension, the Orthodox world needs the Ecumenical Patriarchate to remain anchored, not uprooted.
5. Pastoral Responsibility to the Remaining Faithful
Although the Greek Orthodox population of Istanbul has diminished, it remains a living community with parishes, schools, monasteries, and centuries of heritage. The Ecumenical Patriarch is not only a global figure; he is the shepherd of this local flock.
To leave would be to abandon the faithful who have endured pogroms, discrimination, and demographic decline. Remaining in Istanbul is a pastoral commitment: we do not leave you; we stand with you. It is also a witness to Turkey itself—a reminder of its multi‑religious heritage and a quiet but powerful argument for religious freedom and minority rights.
6. The Paradoxical Strength of Remaining
The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s authority is cruciform: it gains strength precisely by remaining where it is vulnerable. Its presence in Istanbul is a living icon of the Church’s willingness to bear witness under pressure, to serve as a bridge between worlds, and to preserve unity through humility and steadfastness.
Relocation might offer short‑term comfort, but it would weaken the Patriarchate’s theological identity, historical continuity, pan‑Orthodox legitimacy, and global mission. Remaining in Constantinople is not only a matter of tradition; it is a strategic, pastoral, and spiritual necessity for the centuries ahead.
May it be blessed!