Patr. Theophilos Awards Trump With Major Orthodox Honor

Photo: en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patr. Theophilos III of Jerusalem met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on June 4, 2026, to discuss the protection of Christian communities and holy sites in the Holy Land, with a focus on preserving freedom of worship and maintaining the long-standing arrangements governing Jerusalem’s sacred spaces.

During the meeting, the Patriarch awarded President Trump the “Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre,” one of the highest honors of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The decoration is closely tied to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and reflects the Patriarchate’s custodial role over key Christian holy sites.

The discussions addressed challenges facing Christian institutions in the region, including access to sacred sites and the preservation of the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Broader issues affecting both Christian and Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem were also raised, alongside emphasis on maintaining the historic “Status Quo” governing holy places.

Patr. Theophilos also highlighted the Patriarchate’s broader mission of peacebuilding and interfaith cooperation, noting regional efforts supported by Jordan under King Abdullah II and initiatives connected to Christian education and pilgrimage sites such as the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ.

The award follows a wider historical pattern in which U.S. presidents have received honors from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sometimes associated with sacred relics. While the Patriarchate's release does not officially clarify whether Trump's award contained a relic of the True Cross, a documented account of prior presentations of the Order described the badge as containing a hidden reliquary with a “small fragment of the ‘True Cross.’”

If this is the case, Trump would be the third U.S. president to receive a relic of the True Cross, following Warren G. Harding and Harry S. Truman.

The Patriarch invited President Trump to visit Jordan and the Baptism Site, describing the kingdom as a model of religious coexistence and stability, and reaffirmed the Patriarchate’s commitment to safeguarding the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Theophilos III led the celebration of Jordan’s 80th Independence Day anniversary.

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