LAST UPDATE: 21:00
Joe Biden sworn in today as the 46th President of the United States of America and Kamala Harris as the Vice-President.
Vice-President Kamala Harris has taken her oath too and she became the first female, first black and first Asian-American US vice-president.
Newly-elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had arrived at the Capitol, where their swearing-in ceremony took place. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence also attended the ceremony, had arrived at the Capitol, unlike Donald Trump, who was on his way to Florida. Other guests at the ceremony were former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In his first speech, Biden said: “This is democracy’s day” and that the US “has much to do in this winter of peril, much to repair.” Also, he said that the country must confront the rise of white supremacy, and reject manufactured facts.
In addition, Archbishop Elpidohporos of America congratulated the US President and the Vice-President on their swearing-in. He said in a tweet that he prayed for their health and success and that “our land may heal and our country unite.”
Let us all pray for the health and success of President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris, that our land may heal, our country unite, and the world may hope in America.
— Elpidophoros (@Elpidophoros) January 20, 2021
Archbishop of America to offer prayer at virtual presidential inaugural Prayer Service
Moreover, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has been invited by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to offer prayer at the Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. The Service will be held on Thursday, January 21, at 10:00 AM ET.
President Joe Biden will join the virtual event hosted by the Washington National Cathedral, and the service will be live-streamed at https://bideninaugural.org/watch and https://cathedral.org with closed captioning and ASL provided. The customary interfaith service, which dates back to the first inauguration of President George Washington, will be entirely virtual this year to engage Americans safely.
Archbishop Elpidophoros will represent Orthodox Christianity and offer a prayer on behalf of the faithful of the United States. Commenting on his participation, the Archbishop of America said:
“It is a distinct honor to join with other faith leaders from around the country, and pray to our Merciful and Loving God for our new President and Vice President. This venerable tradition is a concrete example of how we can unite as a Nation in prayer for our elected leaders. In joining our intercessions with other Americans of different beliefs and customs, we affirm the essential nature of our American Democracy as a place of freedom of conscience and faith. Let us all pray for the health and success of our new President and Vice President, that our land may heal and our country unite.”