For the first time, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew shares his personal story and vision with French-speaking audiences in an exclusive interview with Fr. Jivko Panev.
Born on the island of Imbros, between Greece and Turkey, Patriarch Bartholomew has led the Ecumenical Patriarchate for over thirty years, embodying an Orthodoxy deeply engaged in dialogue with the modern world. Known as the “Green Patriarch” for his pioneering ecological advocacy, he has built bridges with the Roman Catholic Church through historic meetings with multiple popes, working patiently toward restored Christian unity.
The exceptional documentary “Patriarch Bartholomew: A Life, A Faith” offers a rare and intimate portrait of this spiritual leader. He speaks candidly about his roots, his faith, his vision for the Church, the challenges of his office, internal tensions within global Orthodoxy, and his unwavering commitment to dialogue, peace, universality, and inter-Orthodox unity.
Directed by Jivko Panev and Alexey Vozniuk, this in-depth film provides a sober yet powerful depiction of a key religious figure navigating between Byzantine tradition and the upheavals of the 21st century.
The documentary premieres on Saturday, September 7, at 9:30 AM on France 2, available worldwide, and will be accessible from Monday, September 8 on the Orthodoxie France 2 YouTube channel.
