Kimberly Guilfoyle, the new US Ambassador to Greece, was among the officials who attended the dinner in honor of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the US State Department on Tuesday.
Guilfoyle, who received final approval from the US Senate to serve as ambassador to Greece on Thursday, posted on Saturday on her Facebook page photos of her meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch, saying it was “a profound honor to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, DC.”
The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church had a series of high-level meetings during his three-day visit to the US capital, including one with US President Donald Trump at the White House. This marked the sixth time the Ecumenical Patriarch has met with a sitting US President.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets new US Ambassador to Greece
The day after his meeting with President Trump, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled to Arlington, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring America’s fallen, escorted by Greek-American General Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the US Army Forces Command.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was also hosted by both Sedat Önal, Ambassador of Türkiye to the US, and Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of Greece to the US, at respective meals. Kimberly Guilfoyle met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the dinner in his honor at the US State Department, hosted by Greek-American Michael J. Rigas, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
“His spiritual leadership inspires hundreds of millions around the world, and his presence here reaffirms the unbreakable bonds between the United States, Greece, and the global Orthodox Christian community,” Guilfoyle wrote of her meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch.
“As US Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, I look forward to working closely with His All-Holiness to advance faith, religious freedom, and friendship for generations,” she added.
Ecumenical Patriarch’s Apostolic Visit to the US
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Washington concluded with a visit to the Capitol, where he was received by the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
The Greek Orthodox leader then traveled to Falls Church, Virginia, before continuing to New York City, where he visited St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero. His All-Holiness was welcomed and greeted by children of the Greek Orthodox community and former Vice President of the United States Mike Pence.
Later, the Ecumenical Patriarch met with UN chief António Guterres at the Headquarters of the United Nations to discuss the initiatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the activities of the UN for world peace.
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