GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: communications@goarch.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 10, 2007
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos Tel.: 212.570.3530
ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA TO RECEIVE
ATHENAGORAS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD OCTOBER 27
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte Main Speaker Congressman Zack Space to be Master of Ceremonies
New York, NY- His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America has been designated the recipient of the Athenagoras Human Rights Award by the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Award will be presented on Saturday, October 27, at the Archons' annual banquet at the Hilton Hotel in New York City. The Order of St. Andrew is a dedicated and distinguished group of laymen, recognized as â??Defenders of the Faith,â?? who have been granted the title of Archon by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Established in 1986, the Athenagoras Award honors Patriarch Athenagoras who served as Archbishop of the Americas for 18 years before being elected Ecumenical Patriarch in 1948. He was universally acknowledged as a visionary leader of Orthodoxy, numbering more than 250 million faithful worldwide, who worked for peace among Churches and people throughout his life. Previous recipients have included Archbishop Iakovos, President Jimmy Carter, President George H.W. Bush, Mikhael Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa and Elie Wiesel.
In announcing the Award, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew stated,
â??Archbishop Demetrios of America exemplifies the very elements that constitute the Athenagoras Human Rights Award - humanity, humility, holiness, compassion and leadership. We will never forget his extraordinary personal care in the tragic aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. On the occasion of his 40th Anniversary of his ordination to the Episcopacy and in thanksgiving for his 47 years in the priestly order of Melchizedek, he has demonstrated exemplary service to humankind as an Orthodox hierarch, theologian, statesman and biblical scholar.â??
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will be the main speaker and newly?elected Congressman Zack Space (D-OH) wiill serve as Master of Ceremonies. Invited guests include His Eminence Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, the official representative of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; His Eminence Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus, and Archons, religious and government leaders and Orthodox faithful from throughout the country.
Maria Foscarinis, founder and Executive Director of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) will address the Order of St. Andrew Ladiesâ?? Tea reception at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the New York Hilton.
INVESTITURE OF 23 NEW ARCHONS SUNDAY OCTOBER 28
On behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch , His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios will preside at the Investiture of 23 new Archons, from throughout the United States, following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 28 at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
Archdiocesan District: Vasilios Grous, Greenwich, CT; Dino Ralis, Bayside, NY;
Metropolis of Atlanta: James Michael Arakas, Myrtle Beach, SC; George Koulianos, Mobile, AL; Tim Tassopoulos, Mobile, AL; Nicholas Yakubik, Cary, NC; John C. Scurtis, Coconut Grove, FL
Metropolis of Boston: George Sakellaris, Milton, MA; John Gianakouras, Milton, MA
Metropolis of Chicago: Harold V. Anagnos, Long Grove, IL; George D. Danigeles, Elmhurst, IL; Panagiotis Parthenis, Inverness, IL
Metropolis of Denver: Nick Bapis, Salt Lake City , UT; John Peter Kaclanes, Denver, CO; George Stephan Pappas, Phornton, CO
Metropolis of Detroit: George Timothy Reganis, Bloomfield, MI
Metropolis of New Jersey: Basil Theodore Bozonelis, Chatham, NJ; George Paul Stamas, Baltimore, MD; Theodore D. Veru, Fort Lee, NJ
Metropolis of Pittsburgh: Theodore K. Zampetis, Hinckley, OH
Metropolis of San Francisco: Judge Oleh Saciuk, Lomita, CA; Peter Scamagas, Fresno, CA; Stefanos Vertopoulos, Vancouver, WA