Gold Coin for Patriarch by U.S.

Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos was invited to the Ankara Embassy of U.S. last week, with an “ecumenical” title and this had caused a political crisis between Turkey and U.S. However it is understood that the U.S. House of Representatives had titled the patriarch as ecumenical in 1977 and printed a gold medal for this.Patriarch Bartholomeos is the fifth religious authority to be rewarded with a gold medal by the House of Representatives and he received his gold medal and the related brevet in a ceremony held at the House of Representatives in 1997. Accordingly his ecumenical title is recorded in the U.S. Congress records. As explained in the official internet site of House of Representatives, Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has also met him under this title.The gold medal is known as the oldest and honored reward of the American history. For the first time given to George Washington in May of 1776, it was also presented to Nun Teresa, Pope II. Jean Paul. �