Head of the Phanar: We are proud that Mount Athos falls under our jurisdiction

On August 9, 2026, the head of the Phanar presided over the Divine Liturgy at the metochion of the Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Galata (Istanbul) to mark the saint’s feast day according to the Julian calendar. During his homily, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the special significance of Mount Athos for the Orthodox world, calling it the “ornament” of the Church of Constantinople. This was reported by Romfea.gr

In his address, Patriarch Bartholomew noted that the Holy Mountain of Athos holds a unique place in Orthodox monasticism. “We are proud that Mount Athos is under the spiritual jurisdiction and care of the Mother Church of Constantinople,” — he said. The Patriarch emphasized that Athos is a place of peaceful and fraternal coexistence, where representatives of different nations—Greeks, Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, and Romanians—live as “true brothers in Christ.”

It should be noted that earlier, the abbot of the Mount Athos monastery New Esfigmen, Bartholomew , spoke about how Mount Athos is fighting against “Russian influence.” The clergyman emphasized that Mount Athos falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and consistently opposes “Moscow’s expansionist ambitions,” which, in his words, “are political and ideological in nature.”