Continuing his Apostolic Visit to the United States, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended a dinner in his honor at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., hosted by Deputy Secretary of State Michael J. Rigas.
Speaking to an audience of ambassadors, diplomats, clergy, and U.S. officials, the Patriarch issued a pointed warning against the dangers of nationalism in religion. He urged a renewed global commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and the dignity of every human being.
“As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to pursue the kingdom of God, not any kingdom of man, no matter how inviting,” he said, emphasizing that the Ecumenical Patriarchate stands above political boundaries and national rivalries.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the family of Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Michael J. Rigas, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Greece. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Acknowledging that many Orthodox churches are shaped by national identities, His All-Holiness stressed that religion should not reinforce nationalism. “Religion was used to consolidate peoples around specific governments… But has not the human family arrived at a point when such rigid forms of conformity no longer serve the interest of the people?” he asked.
Addressing the setting of his remarks, the Patriarch highlighted the parallels between diplomacy and faith, noting that both require empathy and the capacity to understand others. “The Orthodox Church does not embrace ethnophilism as a policy, even when some of our sister churches have done so, out of political and even financial expediency,” he said.
His All-Holiness emphasized that religious leaders today must create space for mutual respect, interfaith dialogue, and reconciliation. “The significant contribution of the great religious traditions should be to create fields of mutual respect and understanding,” he said, urging the practice of acceptance over rejection.
Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, he reminded listeners that Christ is “of the same essence” with the Father—a truth he said extends to all humanity, affirming the dignity of every person. He closed with a blessing for the U.S.: “May God bless you richly, and may God bless America.”
Archbishop Elpidoforos with Kimberly Guilfoyle, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Greece/ Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Deputy Secretary Rigas, highlighting the Patriarch’s spiritual and diplomatic role, praised religious freedom as a cornerstone of American values, rooted in the First Amendment and the nation’s founding principles. He shared historical Orthodox milestones, including the conversion of Prince Vladimir of Kievan Rus in 988 and Philip Ludwell III, the first American convert to Orthodoxy in 1738.
Rigas also emphasized contemporary challenges facing religious communities worldwide, calling religious liberty a universal right and pledging that the U.S. would continue to address threats through diplomacy and international partnerships.
The dinner included Archbishop Elpidophoros, U.S. Metropolitans, Greek Orthodox clergy, and community leaders, as well as Kimberly Guilfoyle, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Greece, and the Greek Ambassador to the U.S., Ekaterini Nassika.
The Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit underscores the ongoing role of faith leaders in promoting peace, dialogue, and human dignity across national and cultural boundaries.
