Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I leads the Epiphany service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul January 6, 2010.

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I (C), spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, walks after the Epiphany ceremony in Istanbul January 6, 2010. Greek Orthodox swimmers raced to retrieve the wooden crucifix thrown into the Golden Horn in Bosphorus by the Ecumenical...

AP Photo 2 months ago

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I throws the wooden cross aloft into the waters of the Golden Horn water course in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. Greek Orthodox men braved the cold winter weather to dive into Istanbul's Golden Horn, in a race to retrieve the wooden...

Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I conducts Christmas mass in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul December 25, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, centre, conducts the Christmas Mass in the Patriarchate's St. George (Aya Yorgi) Church, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 25, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, right, kisses the Holy Book as he conducts the Christmas Mass in the Patriarchate's St. George (Aya Yorgi) Church in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 25, 2009.

AP Photo 5 months ago

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the Christian Orthodox Church, waits to speak at a symposium addressing environmental challenges facing the Mississippi River and the Louisiana coast in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.

Greek Orthodox men wait for the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to throw a wooden cross into the Golden Horn as part of Epiphany day celebrations in Istanbul January 6, 2010.

Greek Orthodox pilgrim Ouzinos Panaiotis (L) races with an another Orthodox worshipper to retrieve a wooden cross, thrown by Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I into the Golden Horn, as part of Epiphany day celebrations in Istanbul January 6, 2010.

Greek Orthodox pilgrim Ouzinos Panaiotis (L) retrieves a wooden cross, thrown by Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I into the Golden Horn, as part of Epiphany day celebrations in Istanbul January 6, 2010.

Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme lights a candle in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church after his meeting with Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Fener Patriarchate in Istanbul December 30, 2009.

Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme (L) and Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I pose for the media after their meeting at the Fener Patriarchate in Istanbul December 30, 2009.

Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (R) conduct Sunday service in the patriarchal church of Aya Yorgi (St. George) at the Fener Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul July 5, 2009. The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox...

AP Photo 8 months ago

Newly elected Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, right, leads Sunday prayers with Istanbul Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, left, in a show of unity at the patriarchal church of Aya Yorgi (St. George)in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, July 5, 2009. The churches in Istanbul and Moscow have...

AP Photo 8 months ago

Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, right, and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill during their meeting at patriarch building in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Patriarch Kirill is in Turkey for a three-day visit, his first foreign trip. Kirill is...

Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I (R) kisses Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the Fener Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul July 4, 2009. The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church put on a united front on...

AP Photo 4 months ago

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the Christian Orthodox Church, pours holy water into the Mississippi River after performing a blessing aboard the Steamboat Natchez in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Bartholomew I is in New Orleans to participate in a symposium...

AP Photo 4 months ago

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, second from right, leader of the Christian Orthodox Church, blesses the Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat Natchez in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Bartholomew I is in New Orleans to participate in a symposium addressing environmental...

AP Photo 4 months ago

Archbishop Demetrius of America, left, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the Christian Orthodox Church, and Bishop Alexios of Atlanta, right, stand in front of the Steamboat Natchez before boarding to perform a blessing of the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Thursday,...

Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I conducts an Orthodox Easter service in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul April 19, 2009.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Greek Orthodox pilgrim from Greece Ouzinos Panaiotis holds the wooden cross aloft from the waters of the Golden Horn water course in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. Greek Orthodox men braved the cold winter weather to dive into Istanbul's Golden Horn, in a race to retrieve...

AP Photo 8 months ago

Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, conducts a service at the patriarchal church of Aya Yorgi ( St. George) before his meeting with Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Patriarch Kirill is in Turkey for a three-day visit. ...

AP Photo 8 months ago

A Greek Orthodox cleric kisses hand of Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill center, after he conducted a service at the patriarchal church of Aya Yorgi (St. George) before his meeting with Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, July 4, 2009.