Bartholomew: Apostle and Visionary Set For Release October 11

Patriarch Bartholomew oversees the Orthodox Church, which boasts 300 million members worldwide. In one of the most remarkable tenures of the patriarchate, it has been more than twenty-five years since Bartholomew first accepted this ministerial position, which is considered "first among equals" of all Orthodox leaders around the world. He is viewed by many as a strong, humble leader, who is well-loved across a wide variety of political and religious boundaries.

This book removes the veil that some may have placed upon this joyful man of God who is anything but mysterious, as evidenced by the heartfelt contributions to the book from world dignitaries, influencers, and religious leaders that include Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Rowan Williams, Rabbi David Rosen, George Stephanopoulos, Jane Goodall, Vice President Joe Biden, Jr., and former Vice President Al Gore, Jr.

"This first comprehensive biography of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will introduce a great contemporary apostle of Christ to generations of people of faith and even people of no faith; people who will resonate deeply with his powerful message of reconciliation, peace, hope, love, and ultimate redemption for all God's creatures," said His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

With unfettered access to church files, Bartholomew's personal notes, and the patriarch himself, author John Chryssavgis has woven together a picture of a man who has longed to serve God, the Church, and the world his entire life. Through personal and institutional challenges, Bartholomew continues to strive toward unity within the Orthodox community and build bridges to others. It is a task that can be as daunting as it is important, as the seat of the church, Constantinople (Istanbul), is in the minority in an increasingly hostile religious environment.

"It is truly an honor to publish this essential book on such an important and humble man," said Matt Baugher, Senior Vice President of Thomas Nelson and Publisher of W Publishing Group. "We're eternally grateful to John Chryssavgis, who has worked directly with the Patriarch in this effort. His depth of content has captured this mighty servant brilliantly. For those in the Orthodox faith, this book will be a treasure. For those new to the church, it will be a fascinating glimpse into an ancient faith that is rapidly growing and providing a spiritual compass to many millions of believers around the world."

Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins, is a world-leading provider of inspirational content and has been providing readers with quality life-changing products for more than 200 years. The publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN.

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SOURCE W Publishing Group