By Lambros Karpodinis
After Guilfoyle was announced as U.S. ambassador to Greece, many Greek Americans sought her favor, hoping to benefit from her perceived closeness to Trump. One example was Marafatsos, a young “Greeks for Trump” organizer who publicized a photograph of himself and Trump giving thumbs-up gestures. He later entered lobbying and, through his association with Guilfoyle, accompanied her to events throughout Greece, including nightclubs. The Wall Street Journal reported that he crossed professional boundaries by attending diplomatic meetings for which he was not authorized.
Former New Jersey Metropolitan Apostolos named Marafatsos an Archon, with Elpidophoros participating. His appointment, despite being under 40 and reportedly seldom attending church, illustrates what critics see as the Church’s willingness to devalue the title to pursue political influence. The apparent hope was that, if he advanced politically, the newly appointed Archon would promote his personal interests rather than the Church’s. Why award the title to someone who had not yet demonstrated either his qualifications or a commitment to the church?
Elpidophoros has repeatedly shown a willingness to defer to politicians whose influence may be fleeting. His apparent priority is advancing his own agenda and securing political support for a future vacancy on the patriarchal throne. He has met with Guilfoyle several times, ostensibly to discuss reopening the Halki seminary and safeguarding religious freedom.
Although Halki’s reopening has been predicted for decades, it remains closed. His repeated appeals to “religious freedom” are hypocritical because the phrase implies equal concern for all faiths—including Zoroastrianism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the other tens of thousands of religions in the world. —which concern is considered incompatible with his responsibility to proclaim the Gospel of the one true God. Either he believes that salvation comes only through Christ, or he regards all religions as equally valid. Elpidophoros has asserted that there are “many paths to God.” If that is his position, then why is he our religious leader?
Moreover, Guilfoyle lacked the credentials and authority to pressure Turkey into reopening the Halki seminary or to significantly influence its policies on religious freedom. Moreover, she was fired by her former employer, FOX News, for sexual harassment of another female. She had the dubious distinction of being the only female aggressor on that notoriously famous for sexual harassment TV channel.
Guilfoyle’s controversial past did not prevent Elpidophoros from presenting her with a religious medal intended to be worn and treated with reverence. Some accounts say she accepted it with feigned interest, handed it to an aide, and never touched it again. Elpidophoros’s practice of giving sacred objects—including an ostentatious gold cross presented to Trump—to recipients unlikely to honor them is sinful and blasphemous.
During her time as a Fox News presenter, Guilfoyle harshly described Greeks as “freeloaders” and “lazy” amid the 2008 financial crisis. She also criticized people who relied on public assistance, accusing them of burdening taxpayers like herself and saying they should work as waitresses regardless of their circumstances. Those remarks are hypocritical, given reports that she spent lavishly on clothing and cosmetic procedures while seeking money from a wealthy man to pay her debts.
Given Elpidophoros’s own reported pattern of neglecting the poor, taking lengthy vacations, staying in luxury hotels, and attending numerous galas, it is unsurprising that he appeared to accept Guilfoyle’s hypocrisy as normal.
A true religious leader does not seek favors from politicians or fear public criticism. Christ confronted the powerful of His time, even at the cost of crucifixion; He did not appeal to emperors or governors for personal advantage. Rather than pursue favors unlikely to be granted, Elpidophoros should have rebuked Guilfoyle for denigrating Greeks, reminded her that our treatment of the poor tests our faithfulness to God’s teachings, and emphasized Christ’s command to welcome strangers.
