Washington, D.C., March 24, 2025 — Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America delivered a striking tribute to President Donald Trump during a White House celebration of Greek Independence Day, likening him to the revered Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.
The event, held in the East Room, marked the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821, which ended nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule.
Standing beside Trump, Elpidophoros praised the president’s leadership, saying, “You embody the values of our Christian faith and a love for the Gospel.” He drew a bold comparison to Constantine, who founded Constantinople—modern-day Istanbul, the archbishop’s birthplace—and is canonized in the Orthodox Church for legalizing Christianity in 313 A.D. “You remind me of the great Roman Emperor Constantine the Great,” Elpidophoros said, prompting cheers from the audience.
The archbishop presented Trump with a golden Orthodox cross, invoking Constantine’s vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D., where a cross in the sky and Christ’s words—“In this sign, conquer!”—led to victory. “This cross is an everlasting symbol of peace and an invincible trophy,” Elpidophoros declared. “With this cross, I pray you bring peace to the world and make America invincible!” Trump accepted the gift, raising it for the crowd to see, as Elpidophoros blessed his family.
Trump reciprocated the praise, thanking the Greek American community—particularly the “Greeks for Trump” group—for their support in his November victory. With approximately 3 million Greeks living in the United States, the community forms a significant cultural and political force, amplifying the weight of the occasion.
The exchange highlighted a surprising alignment between the president and Elpidophoros, a progressive figure whose past actions have stirred controversy within the conservative Orthodox Church. Known for marching with Black Lives Matter in 2020 and baptizing the child of a gay couple in 2022—an act that sparked global backlash—Elpidophoros has often clashed with traditionalists. He recently called critics of Greece’s gay marriage legalization “fascistic” and, at the 2022 March for Life, emphasized women’s autonomy, citing the Virgin Mary’s free choice. These stances drew criticism from several American Orthodox hierarchs.
Yet, in recent months, Elpidophoros has adopted a more centrist tone, offering prayers at both national conventions last year and meeting with Trump’s new ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, in December. As leader of America’s largest Orthodox community—49% of U.S. Orthodox were Greek in a 2017 Pew poll, part of the three million-strong Greek diaspora—Elpidophoros’s comparison of Trump to Constantine, a saint in Orthodoxy but not in Roman Catholicism, carries profound significance. The gesture underscores a bridge between his progressive leanings and Trump’s conservative base, uniting them in celebration of Greek heritage and faith.
President Trump welcomes Greek-American Alek Skarlatos to White House for Greek Independence Day