On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew departed from the Phanar for Riga, Latvia, following an official invitation from the President of the Republic.
During his stay, the Patriarch will hold a private meeting with President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who will also host an official luncheon in his honor. He will further meet with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) Daiga Mieriņa, and H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže. Among other engagements, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will deliver an address at the University of Latvia.
Accompanying the Patriarch are Metropolitans Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Bessarion of Spain and Portugal; the Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Patriarchal Private Office; Deacon Oikoumenios, Undersecretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod; Grand Syncellus Ieronymos; and Harry Jacobsen, Secretary of the Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Maximos of Selymbria has been appointed Patriarchal Commissioner during the absence of His All-Holiness.
