Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
Well, here’s something you don’t hear every day, Donald Trump being compared to Constantine the Great. Yes, that Constantine. The Roman emperor who legalized Christianity, founded Constantinople, and basically shaped the course of Western civilization.
The unexpected comparison came straight from Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America during a White House event for Greek Independence Day. Standing next to Trump, the archbishop did not hold back.
"Through your leadership, you embody the values of our Christian faith...You remind me of the great Emperor Constantine." -Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
"Through your leadership, you embody the values of our Christian faith," Elpidophoros declared, as history professors across the country collectively winced. "You remind me of the great Emperor Constantine."
And then, because why stop there, he presented Trump with a golden Orthodox cross, invoking Constantine’s legendary battle cry: “In this sign, conquer!” The crowd cheered, Trump held up the cross like a championship trophy, and for a moment, it felt like we had entered an alternate timeline.
Now, let’s be honest, Elpidophoros’s glowing endorsement of Trump caught a lot of people off guard. The archbishop has built a reputation as a more modern Orthodox leader. He marched with Black Lives Matter, baptized the children of a same-sex couple (which sparked outrage in conservative church circles), and even called certain Orthodox leaders “fascistic” for opposing Greece’s legalization of gay marriage.
And yet, here he was, not just praising Trump, but essentially handing him a holy relic of victory.
Of course, Trump was all in. He took the cross, smiled for the cameras, and then showered Greek-Americans with praise—especially those who supported him in the election. After all, what’s a religious moment without a little political branding?
Well, maybe it’s strategy. The archbishop has been walking a fine line lately, making sure he stays in good standing with both political parties. He gave prayers at both the Republican and Democratic conventions. He congratulated Trump on his election win. And just recently, he met with Kimberly Guilfoyle—yes, that Kimberly, now the U.S. ambassador to Greece.
If Constantine were watching from the afterlife, he might be a little confused. After all, he legalized Christianity, not Twitter beefs. He built churches, not casinos. And he conquered Rome, not reality TV.
