Reception for the Ecumenical Patriarch at the State Department - The Greek-American community and Kimberly Guilfoyle

A few hours after laying a wreath at the imposing monument in Arlington Cemetery, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, arrived at the US State Department.

In his brief greeting, the Primate of Orthodoxy warmly thanked the Deputy Foreign Minister, compatriot Michael Rigas, who was the host of the evening, for the hospitality in the building with its heavy historical imprint.

Mr. Bartholomew blessed the table in the impressive hall where the dinner was held, with expatriates from many corners of America attending to see him up close.

A barrage of questions for Kimberly Guilfoyle
At the reception, there was the new US ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was bombarded with questions from the guests about when she will travel to Greece.

In the coming days, her appointment is expected to be ratified by the Senate plenary, paving the way for her to assume her duties after about six weeks. The new ambassador was particularly cordial with those who rushed to greet her, even saying a few words in Greek.

Surrounded by his entire family, Michael Rigas spoke warmly of Mr. Bartholomew and his continued efforts to protect religious freedom. His elderly parents were moved to hear their son’s speech on his rise to this important position.

The event was attended by Ambassador Ekaterini Nasika and members of the Greek diaspora’s financial elite, including John Catsimatidis’ daughter, Andria, John Koudounis, and Dinos Mitropoulos. Diaspora members from other regions, including Panama, Florida, and Delaware, also traveled to the US capital for the dinner.

The Ecumenical Patriarch will be in New York starting Thursday, starting his program with a doxology at the Church of St. Nicholas, where the twin towers stood. He will be in the Hamptons over the weekend, and on September 24, he will be awarded the Templeton Prize, one of the world's highest religious honors, in New York.