Ecumenical Patriarch decries "neglectful and avaricious behavior" on World Environment Day

"Humanity unfortunately has transgressed the Divine command for the protection of creation", said the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in his message on World Environment Day today.  "We experience the results of this neglectful and avaricious behavior today, as weak-willed spectators of the repercussions of catastrophic climactic changes."

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is widely recognized as spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox. He has been dubbed the "Green Patriarch" because of his staunch support for international environmental causes.

Full text of the patriarch's message