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On [[August 13]], 1961, Dimitrios was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] as well as was given a [[monasticism|monastic]] [[tonsure]] with the name Bartholomew. On [[October 19]], 1969, Dn. Bartholomew was ordained a [[priest]]. In 1970, he was elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. On [[December 25]], 1973, Fr, Bartholomew was consecrated [[Metropolitan]] of Philadelphia in Asia Minor. In 1974, he became a member of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Constantinople. On [[January 14]], 1990, he was [[enthronement|enthroned]] Metropolitan of Chalcedon. On [[October 22]], 1991, Metr. Bartholomew was elected the 270th [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople, New Rome, and [[Ecumenical Patriarch]].
As [[Patriarch]], he has been particularly active internationally. One of his first focuses has been on rebuilding the once-persecuted Orthodox Churches of the former Eastern Bloc Europe following the fall of Soviet Communism in 19901989-91. As part of this effort he has worked to strengthen ties amongst the various national Churches and Patriarchates of the Orthodox Church. He has also continued the reconciliation dialogues with the [[Roman Catholic Church]] started by his predecessors, and initiated dialogues with other faiths, including [[Christianity|Christian]], [[Islam|Muslim]], and [[Judaism|Jewish]] sects. He is sometimes accused of acting in an authoritarian, almost [[papacy|papal]] manner by some of his detractors, especially regarding his actions toward the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]].
Perhaps most unusually, he has gained a reputation as a prominent environmentalist, putting the support of the Patriarchate behind various international environmental causes.
