EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). It was a disgraceful presence by AB Elpidophoros on the first day of the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee just a few hours ago. You can see the video and text of his prayer below and then compare it with his invocation at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. In 2020, he said: “We pray that You would shine the light of Your countenance upon the delegates of this convention, and Vice President Joe Biden for the highest office in the land…” and he kept going about injustice and inequality, repeating the Democrats’ divisive political points. Today, just two days after the assassination attempt, he did NOT dare to say something like “We pray for the full recovery of President Trump, we pray for the dead victim of the attack, and we pray for the unity of this country.” Amazing…
It was disgusting to think that this sorry excuse for a hierarch, who had the gall to march along the BLM a few years ago, the same Trump-haters that “inspired” the would-be assassins’ action, would be invited to talk to the Republican Convention and behave in such a disgusting way...
===================
Elpidophoros’ Invocation at the 2024 Republican Convention
Let us pray to the Lord of All:
Almighty and Eternal God: in peace, we come before You, and we implore of Your Majesty and Your Infinite Goodness:
Look down now upon this gathering of our Nation’s political leaders, and grant them illumined hearts and minds, as they strive to serve their fellow citizens through this Republican National Convention.
Grant unto the nominee, President Donald J. Trump, and to his advisors and counselors, wisdom, grace, and the spirit of service,
That they may embrace the needs of all Americans, and shine the light of good government upon the venerable institutions of the “world’s best hope”* for every person’s life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
Grant unto all the Delegates a powerful recognition of destiny and purpose, that they may bear witness to the Divine Providence which has shielded this Great Land through the centuries, and drives us to a more perfect union with one another, ever-building on the labors of those pioneers of patriotism who have gone before us.
Finally, preserve, protect, and defend the Service men and women who daily safeguard our freedoms, so that in prosperity and tranquility we can worship You, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of the Universe, and be the blesséd People whose God is the Lord.
Amen.
===================
Elpidophoros’ prayer at the 2020 Democratic Convention
Greetings, I am Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Let us pray.
Most merciful and loving God, as we gather in soberness of mind and of heart for the sake of our nation and its future, we pray that You would shine the light of Your countenance upon the delegates of this convention, and upon Vice President Joe Biden for the highest office in the land.
As we face the future as one American nation, bring us to our best selves, and inspire our better angels in peace, in fairness, and in generosity, that we may fight against injustice, inequality, and hatred, that we may achieve a common good, a greater good, in the name of the Holy Trinity we pray. Amen.
“Vice President Joe Biden”? Did I hear that correctly?
It was 2020 – Biden’s title was still VP
Vomit 🤮 inducing.
Nothing new with Elpidoktonos but his pervert idol Joe Biden is going down in flames and he knows he’s losing the faithful .
God save our church and country. God bless Trump!
Yes, he could have said something about Trump’s recovery, but that probably would mean revising the text he’s been practicing to deliver for months.
The real travesty in my view is that his prayer is not an Orthodox prayer. He does not invoke the blessing of the Holy Spirit and does not address the Triune God, the Holy Trinity. Why? Does he think we are guests in an un-Orthodox country?
His invitation at both parties’ national conventions is not Elpidophoros’ personal achievement. Instead, it is an honor for our Orthodox Faith and our Greek national identity. It is a recognition we earned over a period of over a century.
Let’s rejoice in our collective achievement, and for our country’s sake, let our elections give us the best possible leaders — who may not always be the ones we personally vote for.
You said it so well! Thanks!
Elpidophoros invoked the name of the Holy Trinity at the 2020 Democratic Convention, but not today.
What a difference four years makes! His Faith is involving, probably the result Fordhamite “modernization!”
How The State Department Got Interested In Orthodoxy.
https://orthodoxhistory.org/2020/11/18/how-the-state-dept-got-interested-in-orthodoxy/
The government uses the GOA for its own purpose.
Jane~
Thank you for the link to the article “How the State Dept Got Interested In Orthodoxy.” Do we need any further evidence to explain how deeply imbedded the deep state is with Greek Orthodoxy? Can one see how intertwined formalized religion has become with deep state initiatives, operatives and agendas? This relationship uses the “Church and State,” for the convenience of furthering or advancing the State’s Global causes beyond the boundaries of just faith and Christianity.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has been bestowed the honor of the opening Benediction Prayer on many political occasions, not just at the National Democrat and Republican Conventions in recent years. I ask, to what degree of understanding does Donald J. Trump and the participants at the conventions comprehend these ties, connections, relationships, promises and obligations imposed between the State and the Greek Orthodox Church? What are the motives of both the GO Church and the State behind using these religious figureheads and is it appropriate given Elpidophoros’ very public political stance he took when he walked proudly with BLM, marries couples of the same sex and baptizes their babies? I doubt these participants at the convention are aware of his actions and how he frequently acts out of alignment breaking Biblical Cannons.
If a benediction prayer is truly an opening opportunity for prayer which is to unify the body of Christ by blessing the participants and the events at the convention center asking for wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit, I can think of many more both spiritual and inspirational words which could have-should have come forth from Elpidoktonos’ mouth.
The article Jane included is evidence enough to confirm and validate that our Greek Orthodox Hierarchy in Istanbul, Turkey speak only to secular matters rather than to those pertaining to spiritual. The difference in speech which comes forth is a matter of which comes straight from the heart and is filled with the voice of the Holy Spirit verses not. You either have that specific anointing, or you don’t. Speaking from the heart for both Elipidoktonos and Bartholowmew is painfully difficult to watch as evidenced by the often contradictory statements made be it a translation issue or something else. Their speeches create much confusion leaving one scratching their heads afterwards. Remember, confusion comes from the enemy. This is exactly why the awkwardly scripted words which come spewing out from Elpidoktonos and Bartholomew’s mouths fall completely flat. There is no devotion other than being a mouth piece for the deep state while posing as a Religious “Priest.”
My thoughts come from researching the consequences of becoming a non profit church.
https://christianobserver.net/should-churches-be-under-the-501c3/
“A 501(c)(3) corporation is a non-profit organization that gains a tax-exempt status under section 501(c) in the U.S. Internal Revenue (IRS) Code [26 U.S.C. §501(c)]. Many types of clubs and groups are eligable for 501c3 incorporated status, but part 3 is developed for religious, educational, and charitable entities. There is a false assmuption by many Christians that in order to be an “official” church, one must obtain 501c3 status, but this could not be further from the truth.
In this article, we will learn about the dangers of 501c3, and why no Christian should be caught dead under a 501c3 contract.
• The creator of a corporation is the State.
• The State is the sole authority and sovereign head over the corporation.
• The corporation is subject to the laws of the State which limits its powers.
• The corporation has no constitutionally protected rights.
• The corporation is an artificial person.
• The corporation submits to a State Charter declaring it is a creature of the State.
• The corporation is created for the benefit of the public.
• The corporation is a State franchise.
• The corporation is a privilege granted by the State.
Before we continue, any Christian ought to be able to see the clear Biblical violations a 501c3 incorporated church is committing! Once a preacher has signed the papers, it does not matter who the pastor says his creator is when he’s up on the pulpit, because he signed a document denouncing the Lord Jesus Christ as his creator, and put the state in His place. It does not matter who the pastor says is the sole authority and sovereign head over the church he’s preaching at, because he signed a document declaring that the State has authority over the church of Christ. It does not matter who the pastor says gives Christians liberty, because he signed a document stating that no liberties can be taken within the church unless approved by state-granted privileges. The screams of violation to the Gospel are already deafening, and we have barely started looking into the depths of 501c3 status.”
🆘 The following info is posted on Liberty Fellowship by Pastor Chuck Baldwin.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
The true church is a spiritual organism not a human organization. Before 1954, churches were recognized by the state as being spiritual entities belonging to God and were, therefore, tax-immune. In 1954, churches were brought under the IRC 501(c)(3), which made them NPOs. This means that NPO churches are creatures of the state, hence, they are not tax-immune, but tax exempt. In other words, the state claims that they owe taxes to the state, but the state is granting them an exemption due to their non-profit status—a privilege that can be revoked.
You see, along with the “privilege” of being tax-exempt comes rules and restrictions as to what the NPO can and cannot say and do. This is a major reason why modern “churches” will not get involved in the affairs of state: They are afraid of violating a restriction of their NPO status and, thus, endanger their tax-exemption.”
🆘. Therefore, why on earth would the GOA contract with the US government to become a non profit? It defiles Our Lord!
Elpi was not as disgraceful as the Sikh woman offering a prayer to the demon Waheguru.
Yes, that was a disgrace. Maybe the Lord wants us to see that there will be no political solution.
i cannot disclose which never-Trumper did it, but a person in the organisation of the RNC, at last minute added Elpidoktonos’s name to the list in order to damage President Trump, against whom he had participated in a “coup” within the 2016 Republican National Convention to stop his candidacy.
We have a delegation at the RNC as Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter and we have been briefed after the event. We strongly protested the Turk’s presence in the convention, and the fact that he made no reference to the victims of the murderous attack against D.J.Trump.
Jonathan Konstantinou
Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter
Wow!
And what do you expect from State Department operatives Bartholomew and Elpi , did they mention the persecution, arrest , and torture of the Clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox church of the Ukraine and its banning ?
What do you expect … from Bartholomew , Mistotakis , and Elpi ..when you have a “Gun to your Head” by the Criminal enterprises running America .. the Republican and Democratic ruling parties! Gallop Polls ; 78% of the Population of America considers the U.S . government corrupt thru and thru! What don’t you Understand…let me help you …”AMERICA IS A MAFIA STATE” and Mistotakis and most of the leaders of the EU/Nato government are just “Mob bosses” You got to be kidding …who can call themselves , and I mean proclaim themselves the “leaders of the New World Order , just like that ! Who could start a war with the most powerful Nuclear force in the world , Russia , for a Neo Nazi Mafia State in the Ukraine which can devastate billons of Humanity and end civilization as we know it! Only the Mafia ..who as we know rules by “Violence and Fear” Elpi .. just saw what happens to those who cross the Mafia .. they get shot , like Trump did, or JFk did , or Robert Kennedy did , or Martin luther king did! And guess what .. once your in the Mafia crimes families of America ..you can’t leave peacefully! Thank you for your inside information , but really , tell us something that 78% of the population of America did not already know !
Interesting information Jonathan. There are so many more appropriate and anointed spiritual leaders and Pastors who could have or should have been offered the opportunity to give the benediction prayer…I can’t stop asking myself WHY ELPIDOKTONOS? He is a faith breaker and deceiver. Someone in DJT’s close private circle of advisors should have advised against having Elpi’s anywhere near the Republican Convention. You should OUT the ring never-trumper for pulling a fast one at the convention. He’s a traitor and deserves no electoral seat regardless of what state he may represent.
Margerat, my personal thoughts: The stakeholder elites are trying to create their NWO religion. They have been working on controlling the globe for decades. Here is a link to the Lucis Trust ( wicked in my view) which consults with the United Nations. Read in depth this website. The Lucis Trust is bent on erasing. Christianity and has whitewashed all words about Our Lord. It’s frightening! There are many layers to peel back. Put two and two together. The owners behind the throne have captured the clergy.
https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/support_un
Sorry, but Orthodox bishops have absolutely no business addressing secular American political rallies or conventions. No Business whatsoever.
Would St. John Maximovitch have done such a thing? Nope.
Alex, we pray for them at every Liturgy. So what you are saying is we pray for them but not with them.
Right you are JK ..all orthodox Church in America, Russia, Greece , Ukraine, Middle East and Europe pray for them and the Armed forces of America at their liturgy ! But only the White Anglo Protestants Churches , politicians, and media of America and EU/Nato crime syndicate … consider Patriarch Krill of Russia .. a criminal accomplice to the invasion of the Ukraine by Orthodox Politicians like Vladimir Putin for Blessing Russian Orthodox soldiers and politicians , as they do in America every Sunday.. American politicians and Soldiers ! As a matter of fact .. they spent Billion of dollars in propaganda to demean the Russian Orthodox Church ..as Russian Sabatuer’s dressed up like Priests , and layed the foundation for attempts to issue “Economic Sanctions on Patriarch Krill and the Church, and of course, supported Zelensky persecution and banning of Orthodox Chruch of the Ukaraine ! By the way Jk .. all of this done by the White Supremacist Anglo Saxon Protestants of England and America .. in “English”. not Greek!
Sorry jk, I repeat what I said: Would St. John Maximovitch have done such a thing? Nope.
Yes, they only speak English -makes sense.
Alex, how do you know with certainty what ST. John would have done? Secondly, please read 1 Timothy 2:1-4. I assume you attend Liturgy and hear the petition for civil authorities.
Additionally, if St John wrote that he would not have prayed at a political convention, please let me known the reference.