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Orthodox Observer - March 20, 1997
Athenagoras Award
FR. CHRISTOPHER Metropulos accepts the Athenagoras Hu- man Rights Award on behalf of the clergy from Archbishop Spy- ridon and Archons National Com- mander Dr. Chris Philip at the Sunday of Orthodoxy banquet. At left is Vice Commander Tasso Manessis, banquet chairman. (D. Panagos photo) Aspiritual air characterized this year's annual Sunday of Orthodoxy banquet of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle as the organization paid tribute to our parish priests. The Archons selected the clergy as the recipients of their 12th annual Athenagoras Award for Human Rights. Dr. Chris Philip, national commander of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, told the audience of more than 700 that "it is fitting that on the feast day of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we recognize and honor the clergy of our church, who, too often, we take for granted, but not tonight. We are here to express our deepest gratitude to them, not only for preserving our Orthodox faith and language, but also for enriching and making our lives more meaningful." Dr. Philip praised the clergy as "the central force" of every community and for meeting the spiritual needs of the faithful even when they themselves are beset with problems. "He continues to pursue his spiritual and temporal goals, never complaining, always filled with compassion, empathy and, above all, love." The tone of the evening was set early on when, at the end of the introduction of dais guests, Archbishop Spyridon was introduced along with his special guest — Archbishop Iakovos, which prompted a warm response from the audience. The spirit carried over to remarks by two prominent clergy, the Rev. George Papadeas, a graduate of the first class of Holy Cross School of Theology and the first American-born priest to be ordained, and Holy Cross-Hellenic College President Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas. Dr. Philip presented the Athenagoras Award to the Rev. Christopher T. Metropoulos, pastor of St. Demetrios Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and president of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council. In his acceptance, Fr. Metropulos noted, "what a true joy it is when we work together hand-in-hand to bring people to salvation." In remarks near the end of the banquet Archbishop Spyridon urged the Archons to work toward strengthening the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Archdiocese. He told the audience that "we are nothing without our Mother Church. It is time to fully reclaim this truth in our everyday ecclesial life. The strategy by which we will achieve this goal is to reiterate this truth at every appropriate opportunity, in every relevant publication and every available forum. This will ensure for our faithful the awareness that we do, in fact, belong to something larger than ourselves, a universal church that stretches across the worldwide oecumene." His Eminence spoke of his vision of instilling awareness of Orthodox Christianity in future generations to give them the grounding they need "in an ever increasingly groundless society." He added, "I shall look forward to the upcoming pastoral visit of His All Holiness to renew ardor in all the faithful that comes from being a Greek Orthodox Christian." The Archbishop said the visit of the Patriarch "will do exactly this." Other speakers included New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, and Greece's U.S. Ambassador Loucas Tsilas. Local TV news anchorman Ernie Anastos, himself an Archon, served as master of ceremonies. The Archons' Vice Commander, Tasso Manessis, was the banquet chairman. The "Class of 1997" consists of the following 34 inductees listed below with their hometowns and "offikia" titles: Gregory N. Apostle, Eastchester, N.Y., Depoutatos; Angelo N. Berbatis, Sarasota, Fla., Ekdikos; Constantine G. Caras, Greenville, Del., Skevophylax; Elias D. Chinonis, Grand Blanc, Mich., Lambadarios; Peter J. Christopoulos, Edison, N.J., Primikirios; Costas Costidis, Little Neck, N.Y., Ipomnimon; Anthony Couloucoundis, New York, Ostiarios; Thomas Dallas, Lincolnwood, Ill., Hartophylax;
CHILDREN OF THE Cathedral School take part in the Sunday of Orthodoxy procession. (D. Panagos photo) Anthony Economys, Fort Pierce, Ha.; Ipomnimatografos; Dr. Michael Gabriel, Brooklyn, N.Y., Aktouarios; Anastasius J. Georgalas, Seaford, Va., Ekdikos; Dr. Steven Gounardes, Brooklyn, N.Y., Hieromnimon; George Karagias, Allenhurst, N.J., Exarchos; Evris Kontos, Franklin Lakes, N.J. Aktouarios; Thomas Kress, Edison, N.J., Notarios; James P. Lemonias, Westwood, Mass., Skevophylax; Dean Limberakis, Wakefield, Mass., Primikirios; Steve K. Lioumis, Toms River, N.J., Hartoularios; James J. Mahos, Milwaukee, Wis., Lambadarios; Andrew Manos, Bethesda, Md., Ostiarios; Christos G. Miliotes, Winter Park, Fla., Hartophylax; Stratton Nicolaides, Sarasota, Fla., Depoutatos; Nickolas J. Pantazes, Rockville, Md., Dikaiophylax; Michael F. Parlamis, Tenafly, N.J., Nomophylax; James W. Pihos, West Allis, Wis., Skevophylax; John Poles, Scarsdale, N.Y., Ipomnimon; George E. Safiol, Weston, Mass., Archiophylax; Peter Silis, Alexandria, Va., Ekdikos; Mark D. Stavropoulos, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Referendarios; Andreas Stavrou, Washington Township, N.J., Dikaiophylax; Savas Tsivicos, Wayside, N.J., Kastrinsios; Dimitrios Zygouris, Methuen, Mass., Protonotarios; Dr. Peter D. Zavitsanos, Gladwyne Valley, Pa., Kastrinsios; Peter C. Zourdos, Bethesda, Md., Lambadarios. [ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1125 - March 20, 1997 - pp. 1, 3 ]
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