Rep. Gus Bilirakis Advocates for Religious Freedom of Christians in Türkiye

Honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

• ☦️ Representative Gus Bilirakis, co-chair of the Congressional Caucuses of International Religious Freedom and Hellenic issues, welcomed His All-Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople to the United States.
• 🕊️ Bartholomew is recognized as a significant spiritual leader, an ambassador of peace, interfaith dialogue, and religious freedom, embodying faith, peace, and endurance.
• 🌍 He has led millions of Orthodox faithful for over 34 years and fostered dialogue among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, notably hosting the annual Religions of Peace World Council.

Advocacy for Persecuted Christians in Türkiye

• 🏛️ Bilirakis highlighted Bartholomew's advocacy for his persecuted church and other religious minorities, citing the confiscation of Holy St. Catherine's monastery in Sinai.
• 📉 He detailed the systemic exploitation of Christian communities in Türkiye, reducing their population from 20% to 2% over the last century.
• 🚫 The Turkish government's refusal to recognize Bartholomew's ecumenical jurisdiction and its discrimination under the Erdogan regime were emphasized.

Calls for Action and Recognition

• 🏫 Specific demands include reopening the Halki Theological School to train clergy of all nationalities and reconverting the Hagia Sophia back into a church.
• ⚖️ Bilirakis urged the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to designate Turkey as a country of particular concern.
• ✊ He called for the US to insist that Turkey eliminate discrimination, grant international recognition to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and protect religious minorities.

Broader Implications and Solidarity

• ✝️ The speech drew parallels to the legacy of Archbishop Yakovos standing with Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing the need to stand against racism and discrimination.
• 🗣️ Bilirakis stressed the importance of being a voice for the voiceless and defending faith, even in the face of danger, inspired by both Bartholomew and the late Charlie Kirk.
• 🙏 The address concluded with a call to commit to defending the rights of Bartholomew's church and all persecuted religious minorities, promoting peaceful coexistence.