US President Donald Trump calls Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

CONSTANTINOPLE – President Donald J. Trump called on Pascha Day, Sunday, April 19 in the evening (local time) His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and wished him warmly on the Holy Feast of Orthodox Pascha.

It is reminded here that President Trump was getting ready to receive His All-Holiness at the White House on May 13 as The National Herald had reported, but the Patriarchal visit to the US was until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The White House issued the following News Release:

“Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch. The President expressed his best wishes and prayers for a blessed Easter, particularly during this challenging time, to His All-Holiness and to all Orthodox Christians celebrating around the world. The President thanked His All-Holiness for the Orthodox Church’s charitable response to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Also, the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued the following announcement:

“The President of the United States of America Donald J, Trump communicated with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Easter Sunday, shortly after 9 p.m., to express his warm wishes for the feast of Christ’s Resurrection and Holy Pascha to His All-Holiness and to the Orthodox Christians under his jurisdiction.

Ecumenical Patriarch thanked the U.S. President for his initiative to express his wishes over the phone, but also for his country’s support on the issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

He also thanked him for his interest in the Archdiocese of America and its flock, under the leadership of Archbishop Elpidophoros.

It should be reminded that the two leaders were scheduled to meet next May, but due to the Pandemic, the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch to the United States was postponed to next year.”