October 1, 2009

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America is pleased to announce the launch of the web site dedicated to the US Visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at http://www.usvisit2009.org/.

The web site, which was built by the Archdiocese's Department of Internet Ministries, features content that will be continually updated and expanded throughout the US Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, known as, "The Green Patriarch," (a name coined by former US Vice President Al Gore and adopted widely in the international media) is making an official visit to the United States from October 20 to November 6, 2009 in order to preside over the annual Religion, Science, and Environment Symposium and to celebrate the tenth anniversary of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios' enthronement as Archbishop of America.

During the visit of His All Holiness, the web site will feature live audio and video broadcasts from event venues, a running Twitter feed for real-time updates of the visit, daily blogs, audio and video podcasts, a dedicated YouTube channel, photogalleries, and opportunities for visitors to share their local communities' questions, thoughts, ideas, and initiatives on the protection of the environment.

USvisit2009.org has an extensive focus on the Green Patriarch's environmental ministry. Visitors to the site are able to engage His All Holiness' uniquely spiritual position on the environment to learn about his environmental initiatives with a wide range of content including lectures, full-length videos, and games focusing on the Orthodox Church's environmental theology and work.

On line visitors may tour the Ecumenical Patriarchate using the virtual reality component of the site while learning about the apostolic ministry and history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. A schedule of events will enable users to find information about the upcoming environmental symposium and visit of His All Holiness. Facebook groups will enable users to share expertise, experience and ideas on greening local parishes, homes and communities.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is a recipient of the Congressional Gold medal (1997), and was also awarded the Sophie prize in 2002, a prestigious international award for achievement in environmental conservation and sustainability. He has been named in Time Magazine's top 100 list of Leaders and Revolutionaries and was recently named as the top Green Spiritual Leader by Beliefnet because of His tireless work to raise awareness about the environmental crisis and encourage green initiatives among policy makers, communities and individuals.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America