Archbishop Elpidophoros offers prayers at Democratic and Republican national conventions
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has offered prayers at the 2024 Democratic (DNC) and Republican (RNC) national conventions, continuing a longstanding tradition of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of making invocations at these political events.
“Grant unto the nominee for President of these United States, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, to pursue the highest offices in the Land with love, with hope, and with faith in our Nation,” the Archbishop said at the DNC on Tuesday in in Chicago, Illinois, asking for “special blessings” upon President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and their family.
Elpidophoros also attended a reception in his honor, with guests such as Senator Chris Coons; Senator Chris Van Hollen; Congressman John Sarbanes; Congresswoman Dina Titus; Congressman Chris Pappas; California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama Tina Tchen; and New York State Senator Mike Gianaris.
In addition, the event welcomed Ambassador of Greece to the US Ekaterini Nassika; Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the US Evangelos Savva; prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist Dennis Mehiel; president of Manatos & Manatos Mike Manatos; Bishop Timothy of Hexamilion; and Fr Alex Karloutsos, protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The archbishop’s benediction at the DNC followed his appearance at the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024, where he prayed that the Republican nominee, former president Donald Trump, as well as his advisors and councilors, be granted “wisdom, grace, and the spirit of service.”
As the convention closely followed the events of July 13 and the attempted assassination of Trump, wounding him and others and taking the life of a rally attendee, Elpidophoros offered “heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of President Trump and the victims of this most tragic shooting.”
