Holy Mount Athos has extended an official invitation to Donald Trump

The civil governor of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis, has extended an official invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit the monastic republic. The unprecedented move, which was reported by Greek media, is seen as an event of historic significance within the framework of religious and geostrategic diplomacy, capable of emphasizing the global role of Mount Athos.

According to the Vima Orthodoxias publication, Alkiviadis Stefanis spoke about the initiative on the radio station Parapolitika 90.1. According to him, he asked US Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas, during the latter’s recent visit to Mount Athos, to personally deliver the invitation to Donald Trump. The US official’s reaction was unexpected: “His eyes rounded, but I think he got excited and said: ‘of course I will do it’,” Stefanis noted.”

Donald Trump’s possible visit to the Holy Mountain could be a world event, as no sitting U.S. president has visited Mount Athos before. The governor emphasized that such a visit fits into the concept of religious diplomacy. He also noted that Trump has already shown interest in Orthodoxy through his contacts with Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

“I see that he recognizes the importance of the Holy Mountain not only in the context of his faith, but also in the context of understanding the geostrategic reality,” Alkiviadis Stefanis said, calling Athos “an intangible embassy of Orthodoxy.” The concept of religious diplomacy is actively used by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a foreign policy tool, and the U.S. State Department, in turn, supports programs to protect international religious freedom.

During the interview, the governor also addressed an important domestic issue for the monks – the work of the Hellenic Postal Service (ELTA). He emphasized that the postal service is vital to the Athonite community. “Many do not have cell phones, many cells do not even have electricity. The only way of communication is through letters. Through the post office they also send their small handicrafts, which are the basis of their existence,” Stephanis explained. This topic is particularly relevant in light of the possible restructuring of the postal network, which has the monks worried.

If Donald Trump’s visit takes place, it will send a powerful global message about the role of Mount Athos as a spiritual and geopolitical center. Alkiviadis Stefanis concluded his speech by describing the unique way of life of the monks, based on humility and prayer, calling Mount Athos “a beacon of stability in a rapidly changing world.”

Earlier we reported that a group of Athonite celiotic monks published a joint statement in which they expressed their strong protest against the visit of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Epiphanius Dumenko to Mount Athos. The monks called his presence uncanonical, saying that it caused spiritual damage and deep sorrow in the monastic community.