A delegation of monks from the Xenophontos Monastery, led by Abbot Elder Alexios, visited the Embassy of the United States of America in Athens on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, where they presented U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle with an icon of the Virgin Mary.
The visit highlighted the enduring spiritual and cultural ties between Greece and the United States, as well as the significance of the Orthodox Christian tradition on the international stage.
Ambassador Guilfoyle later referred to the meeting in a post on social media, writing: “Faith and freedom remain enduring bonds between the United States and Greece. I was deeply honored to receive an icon of the Virgin Mary from the fathers of Xenophontos Monastery on Mount Athos — a powerful symbol of the spiritual traditions that continue to inspire Orthodox Christian communities around the world.”
“I was especially moved to learn that the icon was painted by Father Pahomios, who created sacred artwork at the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in New York following the September 11 attacks. The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting religious freedom,” the ambassador added.
