Washington, D.C., May 16, 2025
Photo: washingtonexaminer.com
Archbishop Elpidophoros, the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has been appointed to the Advisory Board of Religious Leaders for President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, the Archdiocese reports.
The executive order establishing the Commission explains:
It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law. The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government.
Abp. Elpidophoros responded to his appointment to the Advisory Board:
I am honored to serve on this important commission and grateful to President Trump for including me among such distinguished religious leaders. Religious liberty is a cornerstone of our nation, and I look forward to contributing to efforts that promote understanding, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among all faiths. This mission aligns closely with the vision of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who has long advocated for ecumenical dialogue and reconciliation.
Other board members include various Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish clerics.
The Commission is tasked with recognizing contemporary threats to religious rights and proposing measures to safeguard and strengthen these protections going forward. Additionally, the body will provide policy guidance on religious liberty matters to both the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Domestic Policy Council.
The Commission is mainly focused on domestic religious liberty issues, though the President’s executive order also details that its responsibilities include “identifying opportunities for the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious liberty around the world.”
At an event in March, Abp. Elpidophoros praised President Trump for his commitment to Christianity and compared him to St. Constantine the Great.
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