Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, was welcomed at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, in a gesture that highlighted Washington’s acknowledgment of the 1,700-year-old Patriarchate of Constantinople as the historic center of the Orthodox Christian world.

In his conversations with lawmakers, Bartholomew emphasized issues that remain at the core of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s mission: the defense of religious freedom, the safeguarding of Christian communities in areas of conflict, and the advancement of interfaith dialogue.

Members of Congress from both parties have long expressed respect for the Patriarch, citing his consistent advocacy for peace, human rights and the environment.

Later in the day, Bartholomew was scheduled to preside at a Doxology service at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia, addressing the faithful and extending the blessing of the Mother Church of Constantinople to Orthodox Christians in the Washington area.

His visit to the American capital is set to conclude with a reception in his honor, co-hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation and John S. Koudounis, a prominent Greek American business leader and Archon of the Patriarchate. Speaker Johnson and other senior political figures are expected to attend.