April 26, 2023
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America delivers historic speech to the
American Intelligence Community at the National Intelligence University in Washington, DC
Bethesda, MD – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was the guest of honor at the National Intelligence University Presidential Lecture Series, where he addressed faculty and students on the topic of “Militarization of religion by Russia in the Ukrainian conflict. This historic visit marks the first-ever address given by the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to the U.S. intelligence community. The National Intelligence University (NIU) is the flagship elite academic institution of the U.S. intelligence community, and its faculty and students also include members of the intelligence community’s 18 agencies (including the CIA, NSA, the NGA, the FBI, etc.). like all branches of the American armed forces.
UNIO President Dr. J. Scott Cameron invited His Eminence to visit UNIO and share his unique perspectives, ideas and experiences on the religious dynamics of the Ukraine conflict. The event was moderated by Dr. Jake Sotiriadis, director of the UNIO Future Intelligence Research Center and senior Air Force intelligence officer, who moderated the discussion for the hundreds of attendees in the university auditorium. His Eminence delivered a speech on the granting of autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and discussed the implications of Russia’s distortion of the Orthodox faith in the Ukrainian conflict. In recent times, these topics have become increasingly important in Western academic and policy circles. His Eminence has sought to make a significant contribution by educating the American national security community about the ideological aspects of war and conflict. His Eminence answered numerous questions from students and faculty who appreciated his unique insights and personal experience with a convoluted conundrum that requires both nuanced understanding and a sense of urgency.
His Eminence presented UNIO President Cameron with a copy of a book on the Ukrainian Church written by the Archbishop, which will be displayed in the UNIO library, as well as a commemorative icon in honor of the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. After receiving a standing ovation from the audience, Dr. Cameron presented a commemorative NIU folio to His Eminence and thanked him on behalf of the NIU academic community.
At the end of the conference, His Eminence traveled to Istanbul, where he is currently participating in the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Photo courtesy of National Intelligence University
