Abp. Elpidophoros: 'Rumors Have Circulated' About GOARCH Position on Sister Churches
Backtrack begins after extreme pushback on inaccurate and harmful statements by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were shared by the Archdiocese and Orthodox Observer.
NOV. 21, 2025 — In a statement released Friday morning by Abp. Elpidophoros via the Orthodox Observer, His Eminence attempts to clear up "rumors" that have circulated about "the position of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in relation to our sister Churches."
"First, allow me to convey that I do not and would never perceive my brother Hierarchs – or, indeed, their official representatives – as agents of foreign governments," Abp. Elpidophoros said. "Just two weeks ago, at the annual Assembly of Bishops meeting, we broke bread and continued our work together on the life of the church in the United States of America. My fraternal love for all of them remains unchanged and undiminished. All of us jointly recognize that, when the church becomes entangled with political matters, it does so at the risk of itself and its faithful."
Following a Wednesday statement from the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in which they question a White House meeting with "Russian Orthodox clergy who are lobbyists for Putin," the Archdiocese and Orthodox Observer shared a story on the statement and created graphics with pull quotes to further the message. After much pushback, the content was deleted from social media and the Orthodox Observer website. However, the original statement still remains on the Archons' website and social media.
A screenshot of the post on Facebook advertising an article on the Archons' comments. The post has since been deleted. Photo: UOJ-USA
After initially sharing that clergy — who were meeting with officials on Capitol Hill as is their constitutional right, and who come from multiple jurisdictions — are "boosters" of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, the statement from Abp. Elpidophoros now backtracks, saying that "a group of Orthodox Christians met with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to discuss the ongoing question of human rights, religious freedom, and persecution in Ukraine."
The meeting on Capitol Hill involved a pan-Orthodox delegation under the auspices of the Society of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
He also shared a statement from the Assembly of Bishops last fall regarding Ukrainian Law 3894, which shared prayers that the law "is not used to persecute any religious group within Ukraine, which would threaten the religious liberty of millions of its citizens.” The statement also called for an end to hostilities and peaceful resolution to the war, as well as the return of all captives.
"Our position as Hierarchs remains the same," Abp. Elpidophoros said. "All of us jointly recognize how Orthodox Christianity has long been blighted by nationalism and that any short-sighted perception of national interest blinds us to the long-term perspective of history and the Church."
A screenshot of one of the graphics made by the Orthodox Observer and shared by the Archdiocese. Photo: UOJ-USA
He also offered a reminder that Orthodox Christians must be "in" the world and "not of" the world, and focus on growing relationship and healing wounds rather than provoking one another. "We live in a time increasingly marked by intense divisions and hurtful accusations," His Eminence said.
This comes after the Archons' statement, and thus, the Archdiocese and Orthodox Observer, used quotes by powers that are "of the world," including grossly inaccurate and potentially libelous statements from an article by The Hill and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) which said that Orthodox faithful in America "could serve as vehicles" of foreign influence.
"In contrast to the ways of the world, in the Church, each of us – clergy and laity – should exercise restraint and demonstrate sensibility in the way we relate and react to one another, 'honoring one another above ourselves' (Rom. 12.10)," Abp. Elpidophoros closes before wishing everyone a blessed Nativity Fast.
Previously, UOJ reported that the Society of St. John responded to Archon accusation of foreign allegiance.
