Phanar hierarch called all Christian denominations "one body of Christ"

The head of the Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States, Archbishop Elpidophoros, made the landmark statement that all Christian denominations collectively represent the one Body of Christ. This assertion was made on January 30, 2026, at an ecumenical prayer service that brought together representatives of various Christian denominations, including an openly lesbian «bishopess.» According to Orthodox Observer, the event was part of the 58th annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The service, held at Holy Trinity Cathedral and organized by the World Council of Churches, was held under the theme «One Body and One Spirit,» taken from the Epistle to the Ephesians (4:4). In his address, Archbishop Elpidophoros emphasized the need to embrace the existing diversity in the Christian world. «In order to move beyond our ecclesial insularity, we must strive to consciously embrace the diversity that already exists in the Body of Christ,» the hierarch stated.

The list of attendees at the prayer service was particularly resonant. Among those in attendance were ELCA «bishopess» Katrina Foster, who is the first open lesbian to serve as bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod and has been in a same-sex marriage since 2007. Also participating was Episcopal Church «priestess» Kirsten Guidero, who was previously fired from a Christian university for promoting gender ideology. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Peter Eaton of the Episcopal Church, Archbishop Daniel Pamphilius of the UOC in the United States, and representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church attended the event.

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan emphasized that the common experience of suffering around the world unites Christians of all directions. He mentioned «the persecution faced by our immigrants and refugees» as a global challenge. Archbishop Elpidophoros praised Cardinal Dolan’s homily, calling it «enriching,» and presented him with a silver pectoral cross as a sign of gratitude and «brotherly love.»

It is worth noting that the Patriarchate of Constantinople recently organized the annual «Ecumenical Prayer» for the unity of Christians in Istanbul. The event, held on January 17, 2026 at the Cathedral of the Entrance of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple of the Highly Venerable Community of Stavrodromi, brought together representatives of the city’s various Christian denominations and communities, emphasizing the desire for unity in faith.