Patriarch of Alexandria receives human rights award for standing with Constantinople against Russian Church

New York, October 10, 2022

Photo: romfea.gr Photo: romfea.gr     

At a ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in New York on Saturday, the Archons of the Patriarchate of Constantinople presented the 2022 Athenagoras Human Rights Award to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria.

Announcing the selection in July, the Archons explained that Pat. Theodoros was chosen because he supports Constantinople’s self-understanding as the first without equals and stands against the Moscow Patriarchate on the issue of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”

Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis also stated at the ceremony this weekend:

His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore has a profound understanding of the canonical position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Church, and immense respect and love for His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew himself. Accordingly, at tremendous cost and amid considerable risk, His Beatitude has stood consistently with His All-Holiness in defense of the traditional ecclesiastical and canonical prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America opened his own speech with similar praise:

We are here to honor Him with the Athenagoras Human Rights Award – for His unwavering support of the Mother Church of Constantinople, and for His visionary mission across the Continent of Africa. We praise His Beatitude’s courageous stand for the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – a stand that is manifestly righteous and right!

The Archbishop also compared the current Patriarch to his predecessor on the Alexandrian throne, St. Athanasius the Great, who “endur[ed] intense persecution, and exile after exile by the political authorities.”

“Our Patriarch Theodoros knows this same persecution, which has been relentless, because of His stand for the good canonical order of the Church – supporting the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s decision to grant Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and thus, to restore millions of Ukrainians to the Canonical Church,” Abp. Elpidophoros said.

Pat. Theodoros arrived on his first-ever visit to America last Wednesday. He has visited the Greek Archdiocesan headquarters in New York, where he was greeted by hierarchs of the Indian, Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, and Evangelical Lutheran churches, as well as a number of hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, including His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as Jewish and Buddhist leaders.

He also visited various Greek parishes, as well as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York Timothy Cardinal Dolan and Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

The Patriarch’s trip continues through Wednesday.

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10/10/2022

See also
Patriarch of Alexandria protests Copts giving a church to Russian Exarchate Patriarch of Alexandria protests Copts giving a church to Russian Exarchate Patriarch of Alexandria protests Copts giving a church to Russian Exarchate Patriarch of Alexandria protests Copts giving a church to Russian Exarchate
For the Alexandrian Patriarch, the Coptic decision “constitutes a direct interference in serious internal matters of the Orthodox Church… Matters that concern purely intra-Orthodox relations.” Constantinople’s obsession with Ukrainian schismatics continues to spread schism—Metropolis of Piraeus Constantinople’s obsession with Ukrainian schismatics continues to spread schism—Metropolis of Piraeus Constantinople’s obsession with Ukrainian schismatics continues to spread schism—Metropolis of Piraeus Constantinople’s obsession with Ukrainian schismatics continues to spread schism—Metropolis of Piraeus
The Phanar’s “unwarranted obsession with this new dangerous ecclesiastical regime which it created in Ukraine” and its refusal to convene a pan-Orthodox council continues to deepen the schism. Constantinople’s obstinacy has led to the “unacceptable establishment by the Russian Patriarchate of a Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa.” A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism
Jesse Dominick
In late 2019, Patriarch Theodoros entered into communion with the Ukrainian schismatics, setting off a chain reaction that culminated in the Russian Synod’s decision to create an African Exarchate, beginning with the reception of 102 African priests. OrthoChristian presents here a brief timeline of the major events of the Moscow-Alexandria conflict and a more detailed timeline, including various statements and smaller events.
Comments
Katherine10/12/2022 6:58 pm
That my Patriach receives an award for fighting and turning on his brother Bishops makes me embarrassed to be Orthodox in Africa. His office has turned into a chaplaincy for a select few, and no longer serves this continent.
Alex10/11/2022 3:03 pm
What goes around, comes around!
Seraphim 10/11/2022 10:13 am
These people have about as much connection to the Orthodox Church as Lucien Greaves. Their beliefs are almost identical. If you don't believe me - look at the website of the Satanic Temple and compare it to the many statements of Elpidophorus, such as this recent interview: https://www.goarch.org/-/interview-with-ta-nea-gr-english-translation-archbishop-elpidophoros-2022. Its all there, the 2000 years teaching of the Faith is replaced by the hubristic secularist philosophy of human liberation which is all-pervasive in our 'post-God' culture. It would not surprise me at all if they are in the same lodge as Lucien Greaves. I mean that most sincerely. Freemasonry is well-documented in the Greek Church and its philosophy of the universal brotherhood of man is a constant theme in these circles.
Yerom10/11/2022 9:48 am
This is called politics.
fr Jacobus van der Riet10/11/2022 9:36 am
His Beatitude looks a little embarrassed in the photograph. I don't recall his ever expressing verbal or written support for the theologoumenon of "first without equals", so whether this notion of Archbishop Elpidophoros attributed to the recipient is truly shared by him, hopefully remains to be seen. Still, one wonders when the Archons will give due consideration to the plight of those canonical Orthodox Christians whose human rights would seem to be trampled upon, when they are chased out of and robbed of their churches by those very people supported / recognized by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
anonsayswhat10/11/2022 12:22 am
Listen up noobs. We created an award thing called the "Athenagoras Human Rights Award". That Athenagoras guy... Totally 100% trustworthy he was... let us title this award after him. We will award only to our own. We also totally didn't want to update Theodoros in NY how to behave and react when he returns to Africa.
Scott Ross10/10/2022 7:42 pm
How dare Elpidophoros compare Theodoros to what St. Athanasius endured! Theodoros is support schism and heresy, while St. Athanasius was defending the nature of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, and thus Christianity itself! Lord have mercy!
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