Contacts:
Fr. Mark Arey, cell: 646-306-0033
Stavros Papagermanos, cell: 718-415-5850
Andrew Veniouloupos, cell: 914-673-3836
BROADCAST QUALITY FOOTAGE in NTSC and PAL available at: http://www.patriarchate.org/news/media/pressvideo
October 23, 2009
His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will make a return visit to the lower 9th Ward today to survey the recovery and restoration efforts of wetland area in Bayou Bienvenue. In January 2006, the Ecumenical Patriarch traveled to New Orleans in order to witness the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and to pray with people of New Orleans.
His visit today is part of his continuing advocacy on behalf of the protection of the environment, that is being highlighted once again at the Eighth Religion, Science and Environment Symposium convened by His All Holiness this week in New Orleans. (see www.rsesymposium.org and www.usvisit2009.org for live proceeding and updates).
The tour of the lower 9th Ward will commence at 3:00 p.m. at Florida and Cafin Avenues, and then proceed to Florida Avenue and N Prieur Street.
Prior to the visit, His All Holiness will conduct a memorial service at the St. Louis Cemetery # 3 for the victims of the catastrophe, and also in memory of the former Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Archbishop Iakovos (whose patron saint’s day is today, October 23rd, in the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar).
Photos and additional resources for the media at: http://www.patriarchate.org/news/media
