[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 153 (Thursday, September 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               HONORING ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN JAMES

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2025

  Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Ecumenical 
Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the Orthodox Christian 
Church, the second largest Christian church in the world. This week, 
His All-Holiness is visiting the White House and members of Congress, 
and I am proud to join in recognizing his leadership.
  Patriarch Bartholomew has been a tireless voice for peace, religious 
freedom, and human dignity around the globe. He is also a recipient of 
the prestigious Templeton Prize, joining the ranks of Mother Teresa, 
the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, individuals who have 
dedicated their lives to advancing humanity's purpose and moral 
compass.
  Michigan, and especially Macomb County, is blessed with a vibrant 
Greek-American community. More than 7,200 residents in Macomb trace 
their heritage to Greece, with Sterling Heights home to the largest 
concentration. Within Macomb County alone, nearly 4,500 Greek Orthodox 
faithful gather in worship and service. Parishes like St. John Greek 
Orthodox Church and Assumption Greek Orthodox Church are not just 
places of faith, they are pillars of community life, strengthening 
families, serving neighbors, and preserving treasured traditions.
  On behalf of Michigan's 10th District, I extend my gratitude and 
pride to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew for his spiritual 
leadership and his enduring contributions to people of faith in 
Michigan, across America, and around the world.

                          ____________________