The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will visit His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul today (13 January 2014).
Archbishop Justin is from an Evangelical background (having worshipped for several years at Holy Trinity, Brompton, home of the Alpha Course). Responding warmly to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s invitation to visit he noted the important contributions His All-Holiness has made to the world Church and to society at large, and recognised all that unites the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church. The intensive two-day visit will include a private meeting with His All-Holiness, an official reception in the Chamber of the Throne, and a discussion with the Synodical Committee for Inter-Christian Affairs. Archbishop Justin says that he “hopes that the visit will help to develop greater fellowship between the two churches and contribute to the goal of Christian unity”.