Phanar hierarch compares Trump to St. Constantine the Great

On March 24, 2025, the head of the American Archdiocese of Phanar, Archbishop Elpidophoros, visited the White House, where events were held on the occasion of Greek Independence Day. The Phanar hierarch presented US President Donald Trump, who was present at the events, with a cross, comparing him to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great. This is reported by The Orthodox Times.

“Mr. President, you lead the world, you are a leader in upholding freedom and peace between all people. Through your leadership, you embody the values of our Christian faith and love of the Gospel. You remind me of the great Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. It is a great honor for me to present you with this Holy Cross, the very symbol that led Emperor Constantine to victory. As Christ said to him in a vision: “Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα” — ‘Go with this and be victorious’. This Cross is an eternal symbol of peace and an invincible trophy, a sign of divine power and guidance. With this Cross, I pray that you will bring peace to the whole world and make America invincible,” — the hierarch said.

Earlier, US Vice President J.D. Vance said that the US government is taking certain steps to protect Christians in Syria. According to Vance, work has already begun at the diplomatic level to reduce the pressure of radical Islamists on religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.