Archbishop Elpidophoros met with President Trump, VP Pence (+VIDEO)

Washington, D.C., July 24, 2020

Photo: romfea.gr Photo: romfea.gr     

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople met with President Trump and Vice President Pence at the White House yesterday, July 23, chiefly discussing Turkey’s sad conversion of the Agia Sophia cathedral into a mosque again.

The first Islamic prayers are being read in the UNESCO World Heritage site today, while Orthodox Christians are praying akathists to the Mother of God and churches are mournfully ringing their bells.

The Greek Archdiocese reports:

Today, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the White House on the concerns of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese over the seizure and re-conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Following the meeting with the President and Vice President, the Archbishop stated:

“I am grateful to have met with President Trump and Vice President Pence in the White House and communicated our grave dismay at the re-conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, as well as ongoing security concerns for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and issues of religious liberty. In view of tomorrow’s day of mourning, we persevere in prayer but also bring our struggle to the highest levels of government for action and consideration.”

In an interview following his meeting with the heads of state, Abp. Elpidophoros noted that this mournful event also raises questions about the future of minorities in Turkey:

​

The Archbishop first had a scheduled 30-minute meeting with Vice President Pence, followed by an impromptu 15-minute meeting with President Trump, reports Romfea.

President Trump also expressed concern for the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Turkey and promised that he would intervene in the situation, as a supporter of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and of Hellenism.

Following the meeting, Vice President Pence tweeted: “America will stand firm with the Greek Orthodox Church in the call for Hagia Sophia to remain accessible as a source of inspiration and reflection for every person of every faith.”

“Protecting Religious Freedom at home and abroad is a foreign policy priority for the United States of America. We cherish the faith and charitable works of the 1.5 million members of the Greek Orthodox Church in the United States,” he added.

The Archbishop was accompanied by Fr. Alexander Karloutsos.

Abp. Elpidophoros also met with President Trump and VP Pence last July, soon after he was enthroned as the Greek Archbishop of America.

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7/24/2020

See also
First Islamic prayers in Hagia Sophia have begun, to last 24 hours First Islamic prayers in Hagia Sophia have begun, to last 24 hours First Islamic prayers in Hagia Sophia have begun, to last 24 hours First Islamic prayers in Hagia Sophia have begun, to last 24 hours
The first Islamic prayers have already begun in the Hagia Sophai Cathedral in Istanbul, newly reconverted into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Greek Archdiocese declares day of mourning for Agia Sophia: ring church bells, flags half-mast, chant Akathist Greek Archdiocese declares day of mourning for Agia Sophia: ring church bells, flags half-mast, chant Akathist Greek Archdiocese declares day of mourning for Agia Sophia: ring church bells, flags half-mast, chant Akathist Greek Archdiocese declares day of mourning for Agia Sophia: ring church bells, flags half-mast, chant Akathist
The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has declared July 24, the day when the first Islamic prayers are to be read in Agia Sophia, a day of mourning throughout the Archdiocese. Constantinople’s Archons appeal to President Trump concerning fate of Agia Sophia Constantinople’s Archons appeal to President Trump concerning fate of Agia Sophia Constantinople’s Archons appeal to President Trump concerning fate of Agia Sophia Constantinople’s Archons appeal to President Trump concerning fate of Agia Sophia
As a museum, Agia Sophia serves as “a monument of the human spirit and a living symbol of respect for all faiths,” and Turkey must “affirm its commitment to religious freedom and discard all plans to change the status of the Hagia Sophia,” writes Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, the National Commander of the Archons, in his letter to President Trump, published on the official Archons website.
Comments
A Greek of Constantinople7/25/2020 7:21 pm
Since we are mixing politics with religion from what I see in the comments bellow. I'd like to add that except for the 70 OH-58 Kiowa's that have already arrived to cover the army's aviation needs in the Aegean islands, the USA is also giving 1,200 M1117 & 350 Bradley's to the Hellenic army for free. Greece only has to pay for transportation. A sweetener to buy American frigates instead of French? I am not a fan of pissing off France, our long term weapons supplier.. but the Americans surely have lowered the prices considerably when it comes to Greece. Perhaps they have lost faith in Erdogan's Turkey, which is why they began transferring bases to various locations including Greece. In truth, Erdogan is the best asset Greece has.
Archpriest Nectarios 7/25/2020 6:38 am
So the archbishop who walked with admitted Marxists, Communists, and anarchists — proudly holding up a BLM Sign — merits an audience with the President. Who is the President’s scheduler?
Ioan7/25/2020 2:51 am
VP Pence and Secretary of State Pompeo are Evangelical Protestants of the Premillennial Dispensationalist stripe. These E-Ps believe that the Orthodox Church are not “real Christians“ but apostates who are on the side of Antichrist. They use the Greek Church against the Russian Orthodox because they believe that the Russians (who in their twisted theology are - in their prophecy - the “Kingdom of the North”) are the enemy of Israel, a nation whom they idolize. The Greeks are just a tool to be used and then discarded when no longer useful. They’ll keep bringing Elpidophoros to heel with meetings and photo-ops but they won’t jeopardize the US’ relationship with the second-largest military force in NATO for the sake of any Greek.
Alexander Leitner7/24/2020 4:44 pm
These are only words. USA willnot help Bartholomew or the greek church. They are hypocrites
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