The Patriarch

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

Bob Simon interviews Patriarch Bartholomew, who leads the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. Based in Turkey and with only 4,000 followers left in that country, he fears the Turkish authorities are trying to push his church out completely; Orthodox Christians have been in Turkey for 17 centuries. Here, Bob Simon chats with the patriarch in his residence in Istanbul, Turkey.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

A behind-the-scenes shot of Bob Simon's interview with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Halki School of Theology. In the background, 60 Minutes producer Harry Radliffe is monitoring the interview.

The patriarch suggested we visit the Cappadocia region in Turkey, where hundreds of chapels are carved into rock. The best way to get an overview was with hot air balloons.

What looks like a surreal city of stones from above contains hundreds of chapels and homes carved into stone. The chapels at Cappadocia contain probably the oldest Christian art in the world - dating back to the time when Rome was ruled by the Caesars.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon, enjoying the view of Cappadocia from a hot air balloon.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

Patriarch Bartholomew took Bob Simon and the 60 Minutes team to an island not far from Istanbul. It's there where the Halki School of Theology is located.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

The Halki was closed down by Turkish authorities after passage of a law banning private higher education. That was back in 1971. As a consequence, the church can't train new priests -- potential new patriarchs who, under Turkish law, have to be born in Turkey.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

The Patriarch Bartholomew and Bob Simon, visiting a classroom of the Halki School of Theology. The Orthodox Christian Church has been a presence in Turkey for 17 centuries. At the turn of the last century there were nearly 2 million Orthodox Christians in Turkey; today, in all of Turkey, there are only 4,000 Orthodox Christians left.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

While the patriarch says Turkey is treating him and his follower's as second-class citizens, leaving the country is not on option. "We are born here. We want to die here. We feel that our mission is here as it has been for 17 entire centuries," he told Simon.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

Our travels also took us to the Sinai Desert in Egypt, where the oldest functioning monastery anywhere is located. Here, a monk and Associate Producer Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson pose for a snapshot.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

St. Catherine's is located at the foot of Mt. Sinai where, according to tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments. The Burning Bush is also located there.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

Our team then headed from the Sinai to Amman, Jordan. It may look like a big private jet, but we had A LOT of equipment. (Wait until you see the next picture!)

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

Soundman Anton Van Der Merwe, buried by luggage and gear on the flight to Amman.

CBS/Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson

A snapshot of the Dead Sea, taken from thousands of feet above.