On 15 September, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew paid a visit to the University of Tartu and delivered a public lecture in the assembly hall.
The public lecture by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, “Environmental awareness and the role of education”, was open to all interested. After the lecture, His All-Holiness had a meeting with Rector Toomas Asser and teaching staff and students in the senate hall.
“We need a radical change in our mentality and values, in our relationship with the world, and in how we give meaning to our lives. This is why we call on everyone to respect and value the environment around us,” said the Patriarch.
The recording of the lecture can be viewed on UTTV:
In Tartu, His All-Holiness Bartholomew also met Mayor Urmas Klaas and planted an apple-tree in the Peeter Põld square in front of the Ministry of Education and Research.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is visiting Estonia from 12 to 20 September. This was his second visit to the university – the first one was in 2002. This year’s visit is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Orthodox Church of Estonia. See the visit itinerary on the website of the Orthodox Church of Estonia.