Turkey’s “Vatan Partisi” Initiates Criminal Case Against Patriarch Bartholomew

On May 26, 2025, lawyers from Turkey’s Vatan Partisi (Patriotic Party) submitted a petition to the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the initiation of a criminal case against the head of the Constantinople Patriarchate, Patriarch Bartholomew. The main basis for the accusations, according to the petitioners, is the unlawful use of the title “Ecumenical Patriarch.” This was reported by the Turkish outlet ODAtv.

According to the party’s representatives, Bartholomew allegedly committed acts that fall under crimes against the Republic of Turkey: insulting state institutions, threatening national territorial integrity, and violating the constitutional order.

“By using the title ‘Ecumenical Patriarch’ on national and international platforms, Bartholomew infringes upon Turkey’s sovereign rights and makes statements that contradict its constitutional structure,” the lawyers said during a press briefing in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul.

They stated that, according to the Treaty of Lausanne, the Constantinople Patriarchate is a religious institution meant to serve only the Greek Orthodox community within Turkey. Any actions beyond this scope, including self-assigning the ‘ecumenical’ title, have neither legal nor historical legitimacy.

The lawyers recalled that in 2007, Turkey’s Supreme Court ruled that the title “Ecumenical” holds no legal weight, violates Article 10 of the Turkish Constitution, and that the Patriarchate does not have universal authority. Nevertheless, the petitioners noted that Bartholomew continues to use this title in public communications, including during international visits.

For example, during his visits to Greece and Estonia in 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew acted in the capacity of “Ecumenical Patriarch,” was welcomed with military honors, and met with state officials as if he were a head of state, using the symbols of the Constantinople Patriarchate.

Bartholomew’s actions in Ukraine were also highlighted, particularly his issuance of the tomos to the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” in 2019, which resulted in a major schism within the Orthodox world. According to the lawyers, the Patriarch appointed bishops in different countries without proper authority, positioning himself as a global spiritual leader.

“This demonstrates a consistent pattern of activity by Bartholomew that exceeds his jurisdiction and seeks religious and political leadership over Orthodox communities outside of Turkey, directly threatening the sovereignty and unitary structure of the Republic of Turkey,” the Vatan Partisi representatives concluded.

It is also worth noting that the Greek-American outlet The Orthodox Times, considered close to the American Archdiocese of the Constantinople Patriarchate, published a report based on insider information from Ukraine and the Phanar. According to the outlet, the Phanar reportedly harbors doubts about Epiphany Dumenko’s suitability as the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.