ecumenical patriarch

American  

noun

1. the patriarch of Constantinople, regarded as the highest dignitary of the Greek Orthodox Church.

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Other Word Forms

• ecumenical patriarchate noun

Etymology

Origin of ecumenical patriarch

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

It fought for years for recognition from the ecumenical patriarch in Istanbul before finally getting its wish in 2019.

From Reuters • Jun. 30, 2022

So Moscow has been at loggerheads for centuries with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, always the spiritual leader of the church.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2022

The ecumenical patriarch, based in Turkey, is considered “first among equals” among Orthodox patriarchs but, unlike a pope, doesn’t have authority beyond his own territory.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2022

Fellow church leaders, such as the Orthodox leader, ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew, and the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, politicians and other public figures flock to meet him.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2018

The claim of its bishop to be ecumenical patriarch stopped short of the Primacy.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VI The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations, from St. Leo I to St. Gregory I by Allies, T. W. (Thomas William)