Admiral James G. Stavridis,U.S. Navy,and the U.S. Armed Forces received the Athenagoras Human Rights Award at the New York Hilton on 15 October.The award was presented by Archbishop Demetrios,Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Western Hemisphere,and Dr.Anthony Limberakis,National Commander of the Order of St.Andrew the Apostle,Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.The award is presented to one who exemplifies in word and deed the commitment to liberty.
In his acceptance,Admiral Stavridis,who leads the NATO defense alliance as Supreme Allied Commander Europe(SACEUR),a post once held by President Dwight D. Eisenhower,recalled his father from Asia Minor and the values he imparted,including pride in their Hellenic heritage.It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak,the admiral observed.We live in an imperfect world in which human rights sadly are not the norm.
Also attending the awards banquet were the Honorable Dr.Suzan Johnson Cook,U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom;ABC Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos,Master of Ceremonies;and Fox News Chief Congressional Correspondent Mike Emmanuel,who introduced those seated on the dais.The latter two are Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate-a Greek Orhtodox distinction similar to being Knights of Columbus.
Patriarch Bartholomew is the current Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch,the spiritual leader of all Orthodox Christians.He is based in Istanbul,Turkey.
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