The Latest Breaking News from Bartholomew I

Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church has elected a bishop considered to be pro-Russian as its new leader in a vote that reflected the divisions in the church and wider society since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago

Orthodox Christians packed churches on Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide, called overnight for the opening of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine where he said "an indescribable human tragedy is unfolding".

The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an “atrocious" act that is causing enormous suffering

Greece’s prime minister says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be self-isolating at home, a day after meeting in Istanbul with Turkey’s President Recep Tayip Erdogan and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians

This live blog has now closed. Follow the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and based in Istanbul, called for an end to war in Ukraine on Sunday.

As Russia amasses troops on the Ukrainian border in preparation for a potential invasion, tensions between the two countries are also playing out through a conflict in the Orthodox Church.