Phanar Archons support decision to award Zelensky with prize

Zelensky to be awarded the "Beacon of Hope" prize. Photo: archons.org

The Archons of Constantinople supported the decision of the Greek parish of Saint Nicholas in New York to award Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the "Beacon of Hope" prize.

Representatives of the Phanar called Zelensky a defender of religious freedom. In their statement, the national commander of the order, Anthony Limberakis, highly praised Kyiv's church policy. "President Zelensky is waging a fierce struggle not only for political independence but also for the spiritual liberation of the Ukrainian people from the unlawful omophorion of the Moscow Patriarchate," the Archons declared.

Members of the organization also responded to criticism directed at Zelensky regarding the persecution of the UOC. The authors of the address rejected all accusations against the Ukrainian authorities. In the opinion of the Archons, the arrests of clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are exclusively military in nature.

The Archons expressed full solidarity with the Ukrainian people and the President of Ukraine, adding that Zelensky is truly a beacon of hope. They concluded their address with the word "Axios!" ("Worthy!").

As the UOJ reported, NY's Phanar church community was urged to cancel the dinner in honor of Zelensky.

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