A leading proponent of Turkey’s expansionist “Blue Homeland” doctrine has called for the revocation of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America’s Turkish passport and his ban from entering Turkey.
Erol Kara, a journalist and author affiliated with the Turkish Center for Maritime and Global Strategies, accused Archbishop Elpidophoros of engaging in “anti-Turkish rhetoric” during the recent Greek Independence Day celebrations at the White House, hosted by US President Donald Trump last Tuesday.
Kara took issue with Elpidophoros’s repeated use of the title “Ecumenical” when referring to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, insisting he should instead be called “Patriarch of the Rum.” He also criticised the Archbishop for referring to “Constantinople” instead of “Istanbul” while addressing President Trump.
Furthermore, Kara claimed that Archbishop Elpidophoros harboujhrs hostility toward Turkey and aspires to revive a “new Byzantine Empire,” citing his frequent references to national issues such as the Cyprus dispute.
Calling for legal action, Kara urged supporters of Kemal Atatürk, Turkish conservatives, and nationalists to file lawsuits against the Archbishop, whom he claimed is “under close surveillance.” He also pressed Turkish prosecutors to take action against Elpidophoros for “acting against the Republic of Turkey.”
Additionally, Kara stated that retired Rear Admiral Cihat Yaycı, the architect of the “Blue Homeland” doctrine and a vocal advocate for expelling the Ecumenical Patriarchate from Istanbul, views Archbishop Elpidophoros as a serious threat to the Turkish state and will lead the legal campaign against him.
