Acause o its historical location as the caipital o the umwhileEastren Roman (Byzantine) Empire an its role as theMither Kirk o maist modren Orthodox kirks,Constantinople hauds a special place o honor athin Orthodoxy an serves as the seat for the Ecumenical Patriarch, wha enjoys the status oprimus inter pares (first amang equals) amang the warld's Eastren Orthodox prelates an is regardit as the representative an spiritual leader o the warld's 300 million Orthodox Christians.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
↑"Quick facts about the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople". Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Archived fraethe original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved18 Juin 2011.His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew serves as the spiritual leader and representative worldwide voice of some 300 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world
↑"Finding Global Balance". World Bank Publications. Retrieved2 August 2015.His All Holiness is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide