WASHINGTON: Ecum­enical Patriarch Barth­olomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Chris­tians, was released from a Washington hospital on Monday morning after an overnight stay early in his 12-day visit to the United States.

The patriarch is feeling well and is ready to continue his official visit, according to a tweet from Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Bartholomew is the patriarch of Constantinople, based in Turkey. He is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, which gives him prominence but not the power of a Catholic pope.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2021