Patriarch in US - Ongoing coverage - Days of meetings with diaspora and US Gvt Officials

He was welcomed by the Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, Metropolitans of the Ecumenical Throne and figures from the Greek Diaspora. Today at noon, he will cross the threshold of the White House.

Patriarch Bartholomew is expected to raise issues regarding the Middle East, but also to highlight the Ukrainian issue.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Washington yesterday, Sunday evening, as part of his official visit to the United States on the occasion of his awarding of the Templeton Prize.

According to the White House announcement, President Trump will welcome the Patriarch today, Monday, at 2 p.m. – Washington local time.

Despite the late hour, the Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed at the hotel by a crowd of believers, priests and students. Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence the Great Ecclesiarch and Director of the Patriarchal Office, Father Aetios, and the Third Patriarchal Deacon Barnabas.

The reception was also attended by Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey and Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzus.

Circle of Contacts in Washington
During his stay in the American capital, the Ecumenical Patriarch will hold a series of meetings, starting at the White House, where he will visit President Donald Trump in the Oval Office today.

He will then lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, accompanied by General Andrew Poppas. The rest of the program in Washington includes an official dinner at the State Department, a lunch with House Speaker Mike Johnson, which will be attended by lawmakers from both parties, as well as a reception at St. Catherine's Parish in Virginia.

On Thursday, the Patriarch will travel to New York, where he will visit the Church of St. Nicholas at Ground Zero in Manhattan. There, he will perform a doxology, meet with young Orthodox Christians, and participate in commemorations for the rescuers of September 11. In New York, he will also meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and speak at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

The visit is taking place on the occasion of the Ecumenical Patriarch being awarded the Templeton Prize. The ceremony will take place on September 24 at Lincoln Center, in the presence of such personalities as Jane Goodall, Al Gore, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

As part of his presence in the United States, the Ecumenical Patriarch will visit the Greek Orthodox parish in the Hamptons, where he will participate in World Cleanup Day, together with researchers from Stony Brook University and will be honored with the highest medal of the academic institution. Finally, on Sunday, he will celebrate the divine service together with Hierarchs from across America.

The president of NEWGREEKTV is on the spot covering the visit and this will be an ongoing report.